CIHM 
Microfiche 
Series 
(Monographs) 


ICMH 

Collection  de 
microfiches 
(monographies) 


Canadian  institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  institut  canadien  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes  /  Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best  original 
copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this  copy  which 
may  be  bibliographically  unique,  which  may  alter  any  of 
the  images  in  the  reproduction,  or  which  may 
significantly  change  the  usual  method  of  filming  are 
checked  below. 


□ 


Coloured  covers  / 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged  / 


Couverture  endommagee 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated  / 
Couverture  restauree  et/ou  pelliculee 


D 

Cover  title  missing  /  Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 
I      I    Coloured  maps  /  Cartes  geographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)  / 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


r     I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations  / 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material  / 
Relie  avec  d'autres  documents 

Only  edition  available  / 
Seule  edition  disponible 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion  along 
interior  margin  /  La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de 
I'ombre  ou  de  la  distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge 
interieure. 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restorations  may  appear 
within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these  have  been 
omitted  from  filming  /  Use  peut  que  certaines  pages 
blanches  ajoutees  lors  d'une  restauration 
apparaissent  dans  le  texte,  mais,  lorsque  cela  etait 
possible,  ces  pages  n'ont  pas  ete  filmees. 


□    Additional  comments  / 
Commentaires  supplementaires: 


n 


n 


L'Institut  a  microfilme  le  meilleur  exemplaire  qu'il  lui  a 
ete  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details  de  cet  exem- 
plaire qui  son!  peut-etre  uniques  du  point  de  vue  bibli- 
ographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier  une  image  reproduite, 
ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une  modification  dans  la  metho- 
de  normale  de  filmage  sont  indiques  ci-dessous. 

Coloured  pages  /  Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged  /  Pages  endommagees 


D 


□ 


n 


Pages  restored  and/or  laminated  / 
Pages  restaurees  et/ou  pelliculees 


0    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed  / 
Pages  decolorees,  tachetees  ou  piquees 

I  Pages  detached  /  Pages  detachees 

f/l    Showthrough  /  Transparence 


Quality  of  print  varies  / 
Qualite  inegale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  maierial  / 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata  slips, 
tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to  ensure  the  best 
possible  image  /  Les  pages  totalement  ou 
partiellement  obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une 
pelure,  etc.,  ont  ete  filmees  a  nouveau  de  faipon  a 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 

Opposing  pages  with  varying  colouration  or 
discolourations  are  filmed  twice  to  ensure  the  best 
possible  image  /  Les  pages  s'opposant  ayant  des 
colorations  variables  ou  des  decolorations  sont 
filmees  deux  fois  afin  d'obtenir  la  meilleure  image 
possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below  / 

Ce  document  est  (ilme  au  taux  de  reduction  indique  ci-dessous. 


f 

I 


lOx 

14x 

18x 

22x 

26x 

30x 

7 

12x 


16x 


20x 


24x 


28x 


32x 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National   Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  eech  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  '-n  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


1 

2 

4 

5 

L'exemplaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grace  i  la 
gon^rositd  de: 

Bibliot^heque  nationale  du  Canada 


Les  images  su/vantes  ont  6t*  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  netiet*  de  Texemplaire  film*,  at  en 
conformit*  avec  les  conditions  du  central  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  origlnaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sont  filmis  en  commencant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  compoae  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ol-  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
origiriaux  sont  film*s  on  commenqant  par  la 
premiAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  el  en  terminant  par 
ta  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ♦■  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ".  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  etre 
film*s  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirenis. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  etre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA.  il  est  film*  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supirieur  gauche,  de  gauche  i  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n*cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m*thode. 


MICROCOPY    RESOLUTION    TEST    CHART 

lANSI  ond  ISO  TEST  CHART  No    2i 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


1- 


I  3  2 

IIIIM 


140 


1.4 


III  2.5 

II  2.2 

12.0 
1.8 

1.6 


^  /APPLIED  IM^GE     I 

S^  '655   East    Mam    Street 

r.^  Worhester.    Ne«    rork  14609        USA 

^=  1,716)   482  -  0300  -  Ptione 

=  (716)   288  -  5989  -  Fa» 


Conflidt 
land  Vidtory 


j^ 


COCHRANE 


PRICE 

$1.00  NE  1         ' 


IKNNINGS   ANl.i 

<;raham     i 


Conflidt  and  Vidtory 

BY    WILLIAM    S .    COCHRANE 
tPrnibcr    of    ttjf    ^pinnrsota    Conffrcncr 


IN'lRODUCriON    BY    REV.   K.    R.    LA'lHROP    .AND   AN 
APPRECIATION   BY   REV.    H.  C.  JENNINGS.  ^  ^  ^  ^ 


'F  YOU  could  visit  a  man,  who,  for  seven 
lean  years,  had  lain  on  an  invalid's  bed — 
scarcely  able  to  move  and  able  only  to  dis- 
^tinguish  night  from  day;  if  you  could  hear 
from  him  the  story  of  how,  in  the  Hush  of 
a  successful  Christian  ministry,  he  felt  dis- 
ease slowly,  slowly,  insidiously  creeping  on  him, 
stiff.^ning  a  joint  here,  a  muscle  there,  combated  by 
meilical  science,  yet  gaining  always, — if  you  could 
visit  this  man  and  rind  instead  of  a  morbid  invalid 
an  optimistic  iiian,  alert  intellectually,  talking  cheer- 
tiiliy  of  the  value  of  altruistic  thinking,  firm  in  his 
iaith  in  the  average  man,  keenly  interested  in  and 
commenting  acutely  on  world  movements,  and  con- 
secrated to  God  as  few  men  are,  wouldn't  you  con- 
sider it  a  rare  visit  and  much  worth  while?  Come. 
Here  is  William  S.  Cochrane's  book  and  his  life  story 
as  we  have  outlined  it.  Read  it,  this  human  docu- 
ment, and  ponder  over  it,  wonderfully,    f^  ,^  ^  ^ 


■*:-..._:- 

-v--,_-  - 

I 

'   .  *  '    -' 

'S'  -  ■  ~  ■  KiJ 

^.-^.-' 


CONFLICT  AND  VICTORY. 


•^;^:^ 


COiNFLlCT  AND  VICTORY 


WILLIAM  S.  COCHRANE 


Oifrfomp  fril  irith  gnnd." 


CIXCINXATT:    JENNINGS   AND   GRAHAM 
NEW    YORK:    EATON    AND    xMAIXS 


('(Py  RI(,HT,    l'>07.    ny 

Jennings  and  Graham. 


0  922405 


TO  THE  READER. 


The  writer  is  indebted  for  assistance  to 
many  literary  people  whose  thoughts  have 
oft  refreshed  him.  He  would  gladly  make 
acknowledgment  if  possible,  but,  having 
disposed  of  his  library  years  ago,  and  be- 
ing too  weak  for  study,  quoting  almost 
entirely  from  memory,  is  unable  to  do 
more  than  to  ask  those  >,No  recognize  their 
own  literary  thought  to  accept  his  thanks. 

William  S.  Cochrane. 
Ridgetown,  Ont. 


m 


("ON  TEATS. 


To  THE  Reader,    -         .         .         .         . 
Intkodlction,  -         -         .         .         . 
An  Appkecjation,  -  .  .  . 

part  I. 

Ohaptkk. 

I.      EXPEKIENCK   A.\D   TESTIMONY,     - 
II.      Le8SON8,       -  -  -  .  . 

III.      CONSECKATION, 

IV'.    Culture,   -         -         .         .         . 
V.    Co-operation, 
VI.    Christian  Conduct,    - 

part  II. 

VII.    The  P'atuekuoou  of  God  and  the 

Bruthi;kh(K)D  OF  Man,  - 

\  III.    Enoouka(>kmknt, 

IX.     Intelligent  (iooONuts, 

X.    Thk    Responsibility   of    Citizen- 
ship,       -  -  .  . 


Pa«e. 

9 

I. J 


27 
43 
59 
87 
107 
131 


163 
169 
185 

203 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  readers  of  this  book,  of  whom  I 
hope  there  may  be  many,  will  not  be  able 
to  appreciate  its  real  value  without  know- 
ing something  of  the  man,  and  of  the  con- 
ditions under  which  he  wrote  it. 

The  Rev.  William  S.  Cochrane  has  been 
an  honored  and  faithful   member  of  the 
Minnesota    Annual    Conference   of   the 
Methodist   Episcopal    Church   since   1888. 
In  1900  he  passed  to  the  roil  of  veterans 
on  account  of  disability  rather  than  age. 
His    twelve   years    of   effective    service 
were   characterized    by   careful    and   con- 
scientious  work,   and    in    every   place   he 
measured  up  to  its  demands.    He  was  an 
all-round    Methodist   preacher,    and   gave 


10 


Introduction. 


himself  entirely  to  his  work,    fie  is  a  man 
of  clean  hands  and  a  pure  heart. 

As  a  pastor  he  was  faithful  to  his  (hities, 
and  as  a  preacher  he  was  far  above  the 
average.  His  sermons  were  prepareu  with 
great  care,  usually  written  in  full,  and 
were  delivered  in  an  easy,  graceful,  and 
effective  manner.  TTis  diction  was  elegant, 
his  exegesis  sound,  while  it  was  always 
his  own;  his  illustrations  were  appropri- 
ate, and  he  was  easily  followed. 

For  three  years  before  he  was  super- 
annuated he  battled  hopefully  and  heroic- 
ally with  disease,  still  continuing  his  work, 
until  it  became  clear  to  him,  as  it  had  been 
to  his  friends  for  some  time,  that  there 
was  no  hope  of  recovery  without  entire 
rest  from  labor. 

His  disease,  which  has  finally  been  pro- 
nounced rheumatoid  nrthritis,  progressed 
slowly,  insidiously,  Init  constantly,  until 
nearly  every  joint  in  his  body  became  rigid 
and  he  was  helpless.     Five  years  ago  bis 


Introduction, 


11 


eyedght  began  to  fail,  and  again,  slowly 
but  surely,  this  trouble  progressed,  until 
our  brother  had  passed  into  the  twilight 
aud  then  into  the  dark-he  is  now  blind. 
Truly  he  could  say,  with  Job:  "Have 
pity  upon  me,  have  pity  upon  ine,  0  ye, 
Hiy  friends;  for  the  hand  of  God  hath 
touched  me." 

During  all  these  years  of  retirement  and 

disability  he  has  continued  cheerful,  and 

has    never    inurmured    at    his    hard    lot. 

He  retains  all  his  old-time  interest  in 

the  affaii-s  of  this  world,  both  in  Church 

and  State,  lakes  a   lively  interest  in  his 

old  Conference  and  his  old  comrades,  and 

enjoys  the  visits  and  letters  of  friends  to 

the  full  limit. 

During  the  past  four  years  he  has  re- 
sided at  London,  Ontario,  until  this  spring 
he  removed  to  Ridgetown,  Ontario. 

Those  who  have  visited  him  testify  to 
his  remarkable  patience  and  cheerfulness, 
his  Christian  experience  and  life,  and  say 


12 


Introduction. 


that  a  visit  to  his  room  is  a  moans  of 
grace— he  gives  quite  as  much,  even  more, 
than  he  receives  from  the  visitor. 

From  this  darkeued  chamher  of  help- 
lessness he  sends  out  this  little  book- 
written  at  the  request  of  friends— hoping 
it  may  do  some  good  in  the  world  from 
which  he  Is  shut  out. 

It  breathes  a  divine  fragrance  to  all  who 
remember  the  circumstances  under  which 
it  was  written.    Having  read  a  large  part 
of  the  manuscript,  I  wonder  at  the  fresh- 
ness and  vigor  of  his  thought,  the  marvel- 
ous   reteutiveuess    of    his    memory,    and, 
through  constant  correspondence  with  him 
during  all  these  years  of  his  invalidism, 
I  glorify  God  on  his  behalf  who  has  en- 
abled him  to  triumph  and  to  glory  even 
in  tribulation. 

I  am  sure  T  :^uall  be  pardoned  if  I  say 
a  word  of  the  faithful,  devoted  woman, 
who,  during  all  these  years,  has  borne  a 
double  burden  in  caring  for  her  suffering 


Introduction.  \% 

husband.    She  has  been  to  him  hands  and 
feet   and    eyes,   nurse   and   amanuensis- 
faithful,  true,   constant.     She  has  grown 
old,  not  with  years,  but  with  double  care 
and  anxiety,  as  truly  a  martyr  as  any  who 
faced  the  wild  beasts  in  the  Colosseum  in 
the  early  jears  of  our  era.     The  heroes 
and  heroines  are  not  dead,  thank  the  Lord, 
and  if  the  Son  of  man  should  come  now 
He  would  find  faith  in  the  earth. 

^^en  you  read  this  book,  think  of  him 
who  wrote  it  «hut  in  from  commerce  with 
the  outer  world  and  who  can  never  see  the 
light  of  the  sun,  the  blush  of  the  rose,  or 
the  face  of  wife,  child,  or  friend,  until  he 
sees  in  the  light  of  that  world  where 

"Sickness   and   sorrow,    pain   and   death, 
Are  felt  and  feared  no  more." 


Hastings,  Minn. 


E.  R.  Lathrop. 


AN  APPRECIATION. 


The  Tntrodnetion  to  this  little  volume 
has  heen  written  hv  the  Kev.  Ezra  R. 
Lathrop,  A.  M.,  an  honored  sii])erannuate 
of  the  Minnesota  Conference,  who  looks 
back  on  the  past  and  forwaid  to  the  sun- 
rising  from  the  summit  of  fifty  years  of 
elTective  (Miristian  ministry.  His  heart  is 
as  young  as  ever,  and  his  sympathy  with 
all  ii.>>n  grows  with  his  years.  Tie  has 
written  out  of  his  heart  of  the  author  of 
this  book,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  story 
he  has  left  untold.  It  is  In  my  heart  to 
set  down  here  a  few  wc.rds  of  further  ap- 
preciation of  one  of  the  noblest  and  most 
strangely  tried  souls  I  have  known.    And 

15 


m:' 


1 A 

■*"  ^"  Apprrciatinn. 

I  do  it  beoausc  t.-nst  has  won  such  a  vic- 
tory, and  because  the  story  snould  be  told 
that  those  who  need  it  may  be  comforted. 
Nearly  a  score  of  years  ago  there  came 
into    the    mcinbership    of    the    Minnesota 
Conference    „f    the    Methodist    Episcopal 
Church  M   voun^r  „,.,„  ^^  medium  height 
erect,  alert,  a  gentleman-whose  speaking 
eye  and   pleasant   smile   brought   him  at 
once  mto  the  fellowship  of  the  best  minds 
m  that  body.     Hi,  well-trained  mind  and 
his  previous  business  life  made  him  at  once 
the  careful  student  and  the  wise  manager  ^ 
of  the  Churches  he  served.    We  took  Wil-   ' 
liam  S.  Cochrane  into  full  membership  in 
our  hearts  long  before  his  Conference  pro- 
bation was  ended. 

His  progress  was  steadily  upward  in  the 
confidence  of  his  brethren  and  in  the  re- 
gard of  the  Churches.  WBen  his  sky  held 
no  cloud  and  his  future  seemed  to  hold 
many  years  of  etfective  service,  his  disease 
began  its  work.    This  was  in  the  autumn 


An  Appreciation.  17 

of  1896.    He  continued  his  work  and,  with 
one  leg  in  a  plaster  cast,  got  out  and  dis- 
tributed the  Annual  Minutes  of  his  Con- 
ference, of  which  he  was  the  secretary. 
He  was  thf-n  in  an  important  Church,  and 
between  that  and  Asbury  Hospital,  in  Min- 
neapolis,  the  year  was  passed,  varied  by  a 
trip  to  Hot  Springs  Ark.  He  took  a  lighter 
work  in  1897-coming  to  crutches,  mean- 
time-and  preached  until  he  could  stand  in 
tne  pulpit  no  longer.     By  this  time  the 
disease  had  progressed  so  far  that  he  could 
net  hold  in  his  arms  the  last  infant  he  bap- 
tized.    Thus  it  went  on:  another  winter 
at  Hot  Springs,  and  the  next  in  a  private 
hospital  in  Toronto,  which  he  left  in  Feb 
ruary,    1900,    pronounced    an    incurable. 
What  this  sentence  meant  to  this  earnest 
consecrated    man    we    will    never    know' 
Since  that  time,  for  more  than  seven  vears 
he  has  never  been  able  to  be  dressed,  ex- 
cept in  a  loose  dressing  gown,  and  he  has 
not  been  able  to  lie  in  any  position  bu! 
7 


1  Q 

A/i  Aj>j>reciaf)on. 
on  his   back   in   all   thos,   ,-,,^,3       j,^   ^j^^ 
winter  of  1900.  .vhile  Inkino-  tho  hot  evl- 
inder    treatment    in    Toronto,    ho    noticed 
that  h,s  haok,  hi,v.  nork.  .nd  knee,  were 
bogninin,^,   fo   stiCf.,,.      I  V.r   about   a    vear 
after  he  eonid  sit   ,.r„ppod   i,,  ,   ,!,air  an 
hour  or  two  eaH,  day.      ft    roquired  two 
and    p^rt    of   (he    ti,„o   three,    to  lift    him 
from  his  cot  to  a  ehair.      During  all  this 
time    his    snfferinss    were    intense.      The 
.'^titfenin^   of   the   Joints   progressed    nntil 
there  ,s  searcely  any  action   possible    ex 
oept  in  the  arms  and   feet.     He  ean  bend 
His  arms  a   little  at  the  elbows,  and  ean 
niove    his    slioulders    in    a    slii,ht    decree 
He  has  not  been  able  to  ^et  his  hanrls  to 
his  head  for  tive  years.     His  |oft   hand  is 
not  deformed  and  he  can  nse  the  finc^prs- 
hilt   the   right  hand   is  pulled  out  at   the' 
^I'lst  joint,  and  any  attempt  at  movement 
<^auses  great  i)ain.     For  tive  years  he  has 
not  been  able  to  h^i-(\  himself. 
Then  dimness  of  vision  came,  and  while 


he 
dist 


A»  Appreciation.  19 

ran  distinguish  daylight  from  dark, 
"our  years  sinee  he  lost  the  ability 
ingnish  any  objects,  and  the  darkne 


it 

to 


-s   incroasing  all   the   time.     This   loss    ^f 


1.^  one  result  of  his  d 


^^  hilr  ho  could  see  the  t 


isease. 


ab 


He 


ime  passed  more 


\Tas  interested  in  evervth 


'•^"t    liin,.      He   noted   the  habits   of  tl 
birds,  the  sqninols,  and  doinest 


inc 


FT 


p  watched  (h 


le 


ic  animals. 


e  r 


The  changing  foliage,    tl 


iin  and  snow  and  rlonds 


the  fa 


nncrs  in  the  tields— all 


10   waving  grain, 


ten>sf  jiiid  ploasii 


gave  liim  in- 


re. 


•\'id  ail  this  ii])i(.  I 


l!S 


clear 


and    strong 


mind  has  been  as 
■•!«  in  the  davs  of  his 
'^"'''»f'-  With  almost  utter  helplessness 
':''^"  '^""  Ji<^  .joins  in  thefamilvconversa- 

^">"'"""is|ens  to  the  reading  of  the  dailv 
:""'   ••^^''.^^io"s  p.pors.     Jn   hours  when  he 

''''  '''^"''  '"^  "•■^''■"^^■-  mormons,  plans  for 
'""••"•'■'""  i"  'i"<'^  I'i'nself,  and  contributes 
^o  ti.e  common  fund  of  cheerfulness  \ 
letter   from   his   pastor   tells   us    that    ho 


20 


An  Appreciation. 


does  more  for  his  callei-s  than  they  do 
for  him.  He  never  sends  his  friends  a 
doleful  message,  but  is  an  optimist  through 
and  through.  And  this  man,  whose  plan 
of  life  was  changed  by  a  power  not  his 
own,  who  was  turned  from  a  life  of  in- 
creasing effectiveness  in  the  wide  field  of 
fosrvice  into  a  quiet  room  to  suffer,  where 
t'  e  windows  of  the  world  about  him  have 
oarkened  into  night,  lives  on,  loves  on, 
hopes  on,  because  he  has  the  victory  of 
faith  and  has  found  the  grace  of  (lod  suf- 
ficient for  all  his  need.  We  thank  God  for 
his  example  now,  which  is  mightier  than 
any  sermon  he  ever  ])reached.  He  knows 
that  his  disease  is  incurable,  and  he  knows 
not  when  he  shall  be  summoned  to  eternal 
life  and  light,  but  his  victory  is  already 
won,  and  all  the  rest  is  a  small  matter. 
I  have  written  so  much  because  I  want 
you  to  read  this  book  as  if  you  could  see 
him  in  his  sick  chamber,  as  if  you  could 
hear   his    message    in   the    same   cheerful 


An  Appreciation.  21 

tones  which  were  his  when  we  used  to  hear 
him  speak. 

There  is  a  gracious,  patient  woman  who 
has  miuisterea  at  his  bedside  through  ail 
these  >ears.  She  is  just  the  same  now  as 
at  tlie  beginning,  for  love  does  not  fail. 
Other  things  fail:  other  things  pass  away: 
but  not  love.    Thank  God! 

One  further  word.  I  am  hoping  that  this 
little  book  will  have  a  wide  sale.  It  is 
uni(|ue  and  worthy,  and  it  will  help  far 
beyond  its  cost.  And  each  book  sold  will 
add  its  mite  to  the  comfort  of  that  little 
home  in  Ontario  where  lies  one  of  God's 
cho.sen,  who  watches  and  waits  for  the 
morning. 

H.   C.  Jennings. 

Cincinnati. 


ii^'i^ii 


CONFLICT  AND  VICTORY. 


PAKT  I. 


CHAPTER  I. 
EXPERIENCE  AXD  TESTIMONY. 


"Blessed  be  (loil.  «\on  the  Pathor  of  our  Lord 
Je'^us  Cluh-t,  I  Up  i;iiii(.r  ul'  lu.-rciei,  aud  tlu-  (Jod  of 
all  i-oiul'uil;  w  uo  t  liiitoi  It'tli  u^\  lu  jII  ku:'  uibulatiuu, 
tiiat  \,i'  nia>  be  ;il/l>'  to  cuiiilurt  llieui  which  aru  ;ii 
auy  troubU',  by  th.-  comfort  v.  iicu'uith  we  ourHflvws 
aro  coiiifoi  ted  uf  ({ml  " 

"Wlu'ii  tlK'ii  jiassfsl  ihnamh  th"  v.atei's,  1  will  be 
with  tlu'i';  and  (hruiinh  .It'  liviTS,  IlifV  shall  not 
ov.Tlluw  llii'c:  -wtt.-ii  tho'.i  \vall;">;l  thioiigh  the  fire, 
tliou  Khal!  not  be  lii:i,,(|.  i,,  itli.T  bhull  the  flame 
kindle   ii|(un  tliee." 

"My  fjiai't'  is  auttiiJfUt   lui    Uice." 


EXPERIENCE  AXD  TESTIMONY. 

In  writing  this  and  the  following  chap- 
ter, my  only  purpose  is  to  give  encourage- 
ment to  tried  and  trusting  believers,  and 
add  my  testimony  to  the  keeping  power  of 
the  Christian  religion.  I  have  been  greatly 
helped  by  reading  the  accounts  of  other 
sufferers  who  found  in  the  Christian  re- 
ligion an  all-sufficient  support,  and  this 
may  be  my  opportunity  to  pass  the  bless- 
ing on.  If  I  can  in  this  way  reach  and 
comfort  some  one,  as  I  have  been  reached 
and  comforted,  then  I  shall  be  satisfied. 

Brought  ui)  on  a  farm,  educated  at  the 
public  school  and  Collegiate  Institute,  and 
given  a  fine  training  in  the  hardware  busi- 
ness, I  entered  the  ministry  with  a  fair 
knowledge  of  men  and  things.  I  knew 
something  of  the  strenuous  nature  of  mod- 

37 


28  t'uHjInt  an,l   Vo-tory. 

-ni!.usin.ssnn,l,.n>r,.s.i.„alIiro,  and  this 
Kave    ,„y    n.inislry    a    cK.eick.lIy    ,,rarti..al 
turn.      It   was   <nvr   n.y  aim   to   proa.-h   a 
.i-'ospe]    of   a|.,,lio<]    Cln-i.stianitv.      Thai    1 
''ad    a„ihiti„n.s    an.l    ainuMi    to    rank    well 
aiHon^.   n.y    h.vth.vn,    I    an.    iVank   to   a,-- 
knowle.!,,,     Ihu|  f  ,,„,„„,j  „.^.  j^j^^^^,  ,^^^ 
earnesily,  it  ,,ioht  hav.  heen  better  phvs- 
;''al'y  with  mo  to-.Iay,  In.t  havino-  had  nn- 
i"terru,.t.d   o-ood   health   for  over  twenty 
years.  |  had  eo,ne  to  n-ard  nivself  as  aMe 
to  t-ndnre  almost  any  amonnt  of  exposure 
pastoral  work,  a..,l  hard  stndv.     During  a' 
I'a.storate    ol"    lourlecm  years    three    short 
vacations  a,v  all  that  \  ean  reeord. 

The  lolly  or  sn.-h  a  eonrse  i.  won.lerfully 
apparent  to  me  „   u-.     In  thi.  part.Vular  [ 
think  our  riunvh  for  Ih.  ,.a>t  lwentv-f]ve 
years  has  pursued  a  policy  that  has  been 
d^struelive  of  valuable  enerov.      Her 
Preachers'    Mee(;n«s,     Ministerial    Tn.ti- 
tnies.  and  TMerical  Clubs  have  been  given 
over  altogeth(M-  too  much  to  the  discu^^.fon 


Experience  and  Tefttim(yny.  29 

of  ministprial   work.     She  has   been  em- 
I'hasix.ins  soimd  preachitij?,  pastoral  work, 
niPthods  of  stn.ly,  evangelization,  and  ap- 
P'ird  (Miri.stianity.  „ritil  the  conseientious 
pastor  has  retunM-d  to  his  charjx*.  rebuked 
for  the  smallness  of  his  results  and  -oaded 
to  a  determination  to  brint?  up  his  ejiarffe 
to  what  other  pcHij.le  think  it  ou^irht  to  be. 
I  believe  there  are  hundrefls  of  ]n-eaehers 
^ho    are    working  beyond  their  strength, 
?ind    are.    year    iji   and    year   out,    on    the 
ragged    edge    of   phy.sical    endurance 
through    pursuing    just    such    an    insane 
policy  as  that  whi.-h  has  brought  me  into 
my  present  condition. 

Not  that  I  would  under\alue  good 
preaching,  wise  methods,  and  earnest  en- 
deavor, but  I  would  make  the  work  of  the 
ministry  to  conserve  rather  tlian  deplete 
valuable  energy,  nervou.  force,  and  good 
healtli.  Only  once  <h)  I  remember  of  hav- 
ing listened  to  a  conunon-sense  paper  on 
the  important  subject  of  ministerial  health 


.ind  its  relation  to  siicceKs  i;-  tlip  niinistry, 
and   that    was   when    Dr.    [I    (!.   JonninM^,' 
then   of    Red    Win^.    Minnesota,    read    hi.s 
paper,  entitled,  "A   Xew  Puritanism,"  he- 
fore  the   Preaehers'  Meeting  in  St.    Paul, 
and    the   unfortunate    tiling-   ahout    it    wa.. 
that  it  was  not  half  appre.'iate.l.     \  plead 
for  a  month's  vacation  at  least  eaeh  year 
for  every  minister  of  the   Gospel.     Give 
him  an  o|.portunity  to  ^:o{  out  from  uiidor 
the   huiden  and   indulge   in    restful   relax- 
ation.     It    is    the    conseientious,    f-iithful 
preaehers   who   will   he  most   henefited   hy 
sueh  an  outing  and  who  will  make  tli(«  most 
•■■aluahlp  returns  for  vacation  invest mcnts. 
As  a  minister  of  the  GosmoI,   [  tried  to 
he    faithful   in   my   pastoral    l.ihors,   espe- 
cially to  the  unfortunate  an.I  the  shut-in. 
.My  work  among  the  latter  class  was  most 
heneficial  to  me,  for  I  saw.  as  I  could  not 
otherwise  see,  the  value  of  our  holy  reli- 
gion where  the  testing  strain  of  life  is  the 
severest.     80  impressed  was  1  with  this 


Ktpeinflvve  ,in<l    Testimony. 


81 


fact  that  it  hocnnip  .-,  part  of  niy  strok  in 
trado  todoHan.  that  tl„.  Christian  ,an  ho 
happy  and  ro.joi<<.  urid,.r  \\\o  most  distrpss- 
ins:  cin-ninstanr,..-,.  |  hnd  se.-n  it.  and  [ 
hHiPvrd  it,  hnt  i  j.ttio  kno,^-  then  that  t 
would  h..  rallod  upon  to  illustrate  my  own 
positions  in  rny  own  lifo. 

As  I  look  hark  n-uv  I   fool  that  my  pur- 
pose was   pure   in  doin-  what    i   enuld   to 
merit   promotion  and  enlarge  my  Hol.l  of 
nsofulnoss,  hut   th.>  lack  of  wisdom  lay  in 
my   motho.ls    of   procedure.      1    failed    to 
?ivP    myself    fair    play,   and   as   a    result, 
nervous  prostration  set  in.     In  this  weak- 
ened condition    I   h.'came  an  easy  prey  to 
ihenmatoid  artiiritis  which,  np  to  the  pres- 
ent, has  defied  all  medical  treatment. 

■^fy  tirst  hial  came  to  ))ie  when  I  was 
pastor  of  an  influential  Church  and  secre- 
tary of  my  Conference.  The  apprehension 
tliat  pro,^•ressive  ministerial  woric  must 
••ease,  temporarily  at  least,  filled  me  with 
distressing  furehodings.     It   overtook  me 


32 


Cnnfiet  and   Victory. 


tl,.  1       ;  ''"'"  '°  ™'"ifotioa  with 

h     thc^h,   ,„a,    t   ,„,,,    .-olin,,,..-,.,,    Zy 

'    y^  °''''''-  ^"■■Prot   fiio  .n.lnos.s  of  ,„^ 
fee  ,„,«     ,  ,h     ,^^^   ,^^_,_,_^,  ^.^^^^^^^       . 

of  hf .:  r  •"  """"■'■  ''■'"■  ■■-•«-ng 

.-oe  Of       „,  ,„„  „,„_,  ,  _^^,,^^,  ^^^    t  .„. 

7  "^  '""''  ""■*  '•>•  »  feeling  of  rti.fn.st 

:L7of  r™' -r'''-^' *"'-■«  f"'- '■  ""' 
part    ot    tlioso    who    Iv.rl    fl,  n       „ 

work'  «f  T.       .  '"^  ^''"^  '^^  ^he 

the  d,.tre.,s  of  H,e  ho,n-  wn.  .ov,.,-,  h.vond 
-easure.     On),  those  .ho   ha..    „Z 

any  d,     ,„ea«„re  the  severity  of  the  trial. 
The  packing  np,  ™o,i„g_  ^^^  ^^^^^.^^^ 


Sxp^'imcf  and  Te,taMny.  83 

-hioh  ,IK.  ,„|.-i„,,  „f  H^hter  ™,-k  nene«.,i- 

tatod,  made  a  serious  inmad  „|,o„  nnvital 
.«e.-gy.  This  was  followed  hy  a  painful 
yoar     ,,|,„-.d,    so    fa,.   ;„    ,,„„„„    ,,,.,,., 

.1  UK  paniivl  syin;iatlivand 
l.earty,.o-„|.„,,tionof,,  loyal  people' ,^|,„ 

askedof™othedi,-o,.|io„ofth.fo,vesand 
only   s„„|,    -orvi.o   as   ,„y  ,t,.o„irth    no„ld 
rern„t  „,.  ,o  .-.nder.    Th.y  .ame  so  near 
to  me  ,nthoi,-willinCTosslo,,|i,,.,  „,.,„. 
;"■■  ""'""''  "■'"'■'•  ""■■'■  ■■"■•■Vl  p.„.ro,-,„  that 
'  """^  "■'■'■  •''"■•'^  '""-ne  thP,„  in  a  ,o,i„„ 
rememhram-e.     Kvon   the   little   h„v.  and 
?'.-ls  vied   with  eaeh  other  in   rendering 
=-"rao      Tvic-e    whiel,    assured    me    of    the 
K«in,ne  sympathy  of  the  home  and  thai 
";■    "™"'"""    «•'"<    P>-"Pe.-ly    talked    over 

;: :;. '  "^ "-'  i^--"'-  Aitho„..h  that 

"''  -^  '■'"•"*  --  ''"-y,  it  had  its  silver 

"""r  "'"'  "■'"■"  "'-  y.-H-  ..Inse,l  it  wa. 

'■""I'l  •"  '"■  ""0  of  progress  .it,,  a  verv 

marked  change  of  senli,„ent  to  Ihatwhieh 
charaetenzed  its  opening.    ]  ve.^ily  believe 


'^^  Connif:t  and   Virtory. 

that  my  affliotj.   ,  was  a  benediction  to  that 
ChiHvh.     I    w...   fortunate  in  following  a 
.    pastor  who,  althon«h  not  needing'  it  liini- 
splf.  ha\ino-  his  own  home,  took  the  pre- 
•-antion  and  had  h„ilt  and  paid  for  under 
his  own  sup.Mvi.ion  a  u-ell-arran^ed  par- 
^onajve,  so  thai   my  last  year  in  the  min- 
istry was  made  imicl,  more  comfortable  by 
m«  tiiougJiitnl  ronsidoration. 

The  closin-  of  th,.  year  brought  its  sad- 
ness and  trial,  for  it  meant  the  breaking 
lip  of  our  hoMie  and  the  sendinc.  away  of 
the    older    child,    a    ,nero   girl    needing   a 
mother's    oversight,    to    the    hoiu.    of    a 
friend,   thai   she  nn-ght  continue  her  edu- 
cation.      The    storing    of    the    household 
goods  and  preparations  for  a  journev  to  a 
health  resort,  taken  in  connection  with  the 
fhsappointnient    ,.ansed    l.y   the    failure  of 
the  lighter  work  to  do  for  us  what  we  had 
anticipated,  and  the  stubborn  progress  of 
thp  disease,  made  real  to  us  in  a  marked 
manner  the  Biblical  statement,  "Hope  de 


Experience  and  Testimony.  ;^5 

ferred  maketh  the  heart  sick."  It  made  a 
-v,a  dolorosa"  of  what  under  other  c\i 
rnm.ta,..Ps  would  have  been  a  very  de- 
lightful fri]). 

Anxious  to  do  what  I  could  to  regain  my 
hpnith,  I  detenniuod  to  spend  the  winter 

■nflot  Springs,  Ark..  ;hk1  try  what  a  warm 
'•'"•"^'it'^  =ind  Iho  hot  I,;,th.s  would  do  to  re- 
I'^ve  n,y  trouhle.  I  was  doomed  to  further 
^-s'.ppo.ntruent,  for  my  condition  steadilv 
grew  worse  instead  of  yielding  to  treat- 
'nont.      When    T    went    to    Hot    Sprin^^s    T 

-mid  manao-o  to  get  around  with  a  crutch 
and  a  cane,  but  when  I  left,  eight  months 
ator,  although    I    had  .^iven    tho   hath,   a 

^i'-r  trial,  I  had  oi,..,  to  be  wheeled  in  a 
'•I'^T,  or  carried.     We  accepted  an  inviia- 

<"^"^o  the  old  home  for  the  summer,  hop- 
'^^^  that  a  summer  on  the  farm  might  have 

n  restorative  eiTect.  and  once  again  r  was 
'''^ai>pointed. 

/>'<"  this  time  T  had  not  given  up  the 
ti-Pe    of    a    recovery,    and    as    drowning 


36 


Conflict  ond  Victory. 


people  catch  at  straws,  I  laid  hold  upon 
another  hope.  A  Methodist  preacher  in- 
formed me  that  iiis  wife  had  been  cured 
of  the  same  trouble  that  afflicted  me  by  a 
specialist  in  Toronto,  in  whose  private  hos- 
pital rheumatism  was  made  a  specialty.  I 
went  and  took  the  hot  cylinder  treatment 
for  four  months,  returning  at  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time  pronounced  by  the  phy- 
sician in  charge  an  incurable.  That  was 
seven  years  ago,  since  which  time  T  have 
never  been  dressed.  1  have  only  been  able 
to  sit  up  for  a  limited  time,  and  for  the 
l;ist  five  years  have  lain  on  my  back,  only 
sitting  up  while  my  cot  was  being  made. 
At  present,  half  an  hour  every  other  day 
is  my  limit. 

T  thought  I  had  reached  my  heaviest 
trial  when  I  realized  what  it  meant  to  be 
an  incurable.  T  can  not  describe  the  find- 
ing, the  strange  sinking  at  the  heart  which 
came  upon  me  when  I  realized  that  for  th-^ 


'«L_- 


ExpeHence  and  Testinuytiy.  37 

rest  of  the  journey  I  should  belong  to  the 
ranks  of  the  totally  disabled,  and  be  to 
those  whom  T  loved  most  and  who  most 
reciprocated  my  love  a  burden  and  a  care. 
Once  more  T  was  mistaken,  for  a  deeper 
sorrow  and  a  heavier  affliction  awaited  me 
in  the  darkening-  of  the  world  and  the  fad- 
ing of  those  faces,  the  light  of  whose  coun- 
tenances meant  so  much  to  me. 

If  my  ideal  iiad  been  less  exalted,  my 
hopes  less  sanguine,  and  my  ])i-ospect  of 
success  less  promising,  T  might  not  have 
suffered  such  mental  agony,  such  soil  tor- 
ture, in  being  reduced  to  my  present  con- 
dition. 

As  I  look  back  over  it  all  now,  I  can 
not  realize  wluit  I  know  I  have  passed 
through ;  but  of  one  thing  I  can  confidently 
affirm,  and  that  is,  that  the  declaration  of 
my  earlier  ministry  regarding  the  sustain- 
ing power  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ  holds 
good.    If  it  had  not  been  for  this,  I  never 


Ofi 

t'vnjiict  and   Hctory. 
could  have  come  through  it  as  I  have     1 

baveputsoMu.  or  God's  promises  to  "the 
te-st  aud  have  found  th,.n  ^eriliable.  Yea 
aud  ameu  to  him  that  believeth. 

■•The  tears  we  shed  are  not  in  vain; 
Nor  vvurtJiiess  is  the  heavy  strife  •  ' 
For.  like  the  bruised  seed  ot  grain.' 

They  rise  to  renovated  life. 
It  IS  through  tears  our  spirits  grow; 
'Tis  in  the  tempest  souls  expand;' 
They  simply  teach  us  how  to  go 

To  Him  who  leads  us  by  the  hand 
Lefs  welcome,  then,  the  stormy  blast- 
Let's  welcome,  then,  the  ocean's  roar- 
Th.y  only  drive  more  sure  and  last 
Our  trembling  bark   to  heaven's  bright 
shore." 

That  a  great  opportunitj  has  been  given 
to  me  to  demonstrate  the  worth  of  our  holv 
'eligiou  I  can  now  see  eJearlv,  but  T  can 

-<^e,usta«cleaily  that  I  have  i^ot  meas- 
ured up  to  the  greatness  of  the  oppor- 
tmnty.  May  tlie  uext  man  who  follows  in 
^"y   wake  do   much   better.     He   can   do 


J^xperitnce  and  Teaiimony.  39 

better,  vastly  better,  if  he  will  start  in  with 
the  knowledge  and  purpose  which  1  uow 
have. 

There  are  some  lessons  which  we  may 
learn  in  the  furnace  of  affliction  that  we 
can  not  learn  elsewhere,  but  these  1  must 
leave  for  another  chapter. 


CHAPTER  II. 
LESSONS. 


I  see  the  wrong  tliat  round  me  lies, 

I  feel  tlic  ^riiilt  within; 
1    hear,    with    groan    and    iravail-crlea, 

The    world   confess   ita   sin. 

Yet,  in  the  maddening  maze  of  things. 
And  tossed  hy  storm  and   tiood, 

To  one  fixed  tiui-t  my  spirit  clings: 
1   know   that  God   is   good. 

1  diml\-  guess  from    blessings  known 

Ot  gi'i-ater  out  of  sight, 
And,   wiih   thf  chastened   Psalmist  own 

His  judgments,   too,   are   right. 

I  know  not  what  the  future  hath 

Of  marvel  or  surprise, 
Assured  alone  that  life  and  death 

His  mercy  underlies. 


And  if  my  heart  and   liesh  are  weak 

To  bear  an  untried  pain, 
The   bruised    reed    He   will    not   break, 

But  strengthen  and  sustain. 


LESSONS. 

I  BKi.iKVE  that  a  Beiug  of  iufinite.  active 
love  c'outruls  the  uuiverse.  I  have  uo 
ibeudicy,  never  hixvlug  beeu  able  to  con- 
^tiLK.-t  oue  that  did  not  i-aise  more  ques- 
tion^: tlian  tlie  greatest  Ch/lstian  philos- 
oiiher  rouKl  answer.  fu  my  hours  of 
anxiety,  i)erplexity,  and  distress,  I  fall 
back  upon  the  love  and  righteousness  of 
(.'od.  and  .say,  with  Abraham,  "Shall  not 
the  .Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right?" 

■""Alio  lutlioms  the  Eternal  Thought? 

Who  talks  of  scheme  and  plan? 
The  Lord  is  God!      He  needeth  not 
The    poor   device   of   man." 

My  experience  has  been  peculiar— at 
feast  it  seems  so  to  me.  T  can  not  explain 
It,  but  r  can  triisl  and  believe  that  "He 

43 


44 


CoHjilct  and   Vittory. 


doetb  all  things  wc-ll,"  and  that  if  we  knew 
all  tlip  facts  ;inil  the  causes,  Ills  gooduetis 
would  stand  appToxod. 

"A  loving  worm  within  its  clod 
Is  better  than  a  luv(l,-ris  Cod 
In   all    Hie;   worlils.    1   ll   dare   to  say." 

If  in  all  our  afflictions  He  is  afflicted, 
is  it  not  incumbent  upon  us  to  learn  the 
lesson  of  submissive  ulicdience  to  the  Di- 
vine will?  The  followinu'  declaration  of 
the  Master  fortifie-  this  i.osition:  "What 
T  do  thou  knowest  not  no^r,  but  thou  shalt 
understand  bereafler." 

In  harmony  with  this  teaching,  I  have 
found  it  bel})ful  to  oliservo  tbe  following 
simple  rules  of  Christian  life.  Begin  by 
consecrating  yourself  to  God  for  time  and 
for  eternity.  This  done,  you  need  not  an- 
ticipate any  future  trouble.  Do  not  cross 
any  bridges  until  you  come  to  them,  nor 
grieve  over  anv  trial  that  mav  await  vou, 
uot    even    the    hour    of    dissolution.      He 


Letisonfi. 


45 


.vhopo  love  oreatpd  yon  and  still  rares  for 
you  will  not  desert  you  when  confronted 
hy  the  inevitahh'.     "Rest  in  the  Lord  and 
^ait  i-atiently  for  Him"  to  work  out  His 
will  concerning  you,  and  if  the  discipline 
srom  severe,   reiurmbor   that   "whom  the 
I.     d  loveth,  He  chastonoth,  and  seourgeth 
every  son  whom  He  receiveth. "     We  are 
too  apt  to  make  a  partial  application  of 
tlie   promise,   "My   (Jod   shall   supply  all 
>  our  need  according  to  His  riches  in  glory 
hy    Christ    .lesus."      This    surely    means 
more  than  daily  food,  hooks,  friends,  and 
ppligious    privilege.      It   must   also   imply 
needful  discipline.    If  the  Captain  of  our 
salvation  was  made  perfect  through  suf- 
fering, who  are  we  that  we  should  despise 
the  chastening  of  the  Lord,  or  faiut  when 
we  are  rebuked  of  Him?     "Furthermore 
we  have  had  fathers  of  our  flesh  which  cor- 
rected us  and  we  gave  them  reverence: 
shall  we  not  much  rather  be  in  subjection 


^6 


Confiict  and  Victory. 


unio  the  Father  of  spirits,  and  live?  For 
they  -eriiy  for  a  few  days  chastened  us 
after  their  own  pleasure;  but  He  for  our 
profit,  that  we  might  be  partakers  of  His 
holiness. 

"Xow,  no  chastening  for  the  present 
seemeth  to  be  joyous,  but  grievous;  never- 
theless afterward  it  yieldeth  the  peaceable 
fruit  of  righteousness  unto  them  wliich  are 
exercised   thereby." 

Altruistic    thinking    becomes    a    stron- 
support  in   .ffliction,  when  wiselv  directed' 
The  tendency  of  the  afflicted  is  to  ]>ecome 
iriorbid   or   depressed   through    introspec- 
tion.   We  are  ai.t  to  dwell  too  much  upon 
our  own  troubles,  thereby  becoming  dis- 
qualified to  patiently  and  cheerfully  en- 
dure misfortune,  forgetting  Ihat  it  is  our 
Ju^Ji   privilege  as   Christians  to  glorv  in 
tribulation. 

Tf  r,(.(l  has  permitted  you  to  retain,  even 
in  a  weakened  measure,  the  rl-ht  use  of 
your  inteiiectual  i^owers.  then  it  is  yours, 


Le&sons. 


47 


in  spite  of  a  totally  disabled  body,  to  cre- 
ate for  yourself  an  intellectual  environ- 
ment where  you  may  live  and  mo-'e  and 
rejoice  with  a  joy  unspeakable.  Even  an 
emaciated,  disabled  thinker,  racked  on  a 
bed  of  paiti,  can  enter  this  environment 
of  his  own  creation,  and  say  with  the  poet: 

"I  am  owner  of  all  the  pphere, 
Of  the  seven  stars  and  tho  solar  year; 
Of  Caesar's  hand  and  Plato's  brain. 
Of  divinest  heart  and  Shakespeare's  strain." 


If  you  will  turn  your  thought  from  your 
own  difficulties  and  consider  the  social 
progress  of  the  race  and  the  religious 
transformation  of  the  world,  you  will  find 
in  these  two  departments  of  Christian  en- 
deavor themes  of  such  ahsorliing  interest 
as  to  make  vou  forget,  for  the  time  being, 
your  little  environment  of  place  and  cir- 
i  nmstance.  We  have  an  interesting  field 
open  to  us  in  the  material  progress  of  this 
age,  as  seen  in  agriculture,  manufacture, 


4S 


Conflict  and  Victory. 


commerce,  transportation,  and  the  myriad 
appliances  of  electricity.     It  is  intensely 
interesting   to   study   the  forces   at   work 
transforming  the  world   and  making   for 
each  succeeding  gpiieration  a   practically 
new  world.    The  boy  of  to-day  is  entering 
a  very  different  world  from  that  which  hi^ 
father  knew  when  he  was  a  bo}-.     Do  not 
think  because  you  are  physically  disabled, 
that  you  are  thereby  disqualified  to  enter 
into  hearty  sjmipathy  with  the  great  move- 
ments and  achievements  of  your  own  time. 
Consider  the  needs  of  your  own  locality 
and  think  out  some  in-acticai  suggestions 
for  the  Young  People's  Society,  the  Sun- 
day-school, or  the  local  Church.     Arrange 
a  bouquet  of  flowers  for  some  shut  in  like 
yourself;   or,   hetter  still,   write   a   newsy, 
racy,  up-to-date  letter,  keeping  well  in  the 
background  the  thouirht  that  you  are  writ- 
ing to  a   sick  person.     Every  thoughtful 
invalid  will  appreciate  a  letter  which  takes 
for  granted  that  the  one  to  whom  it  is 


Zi^ssanx. 


49 


^rittpn  i.^  ?\\\\  a  1  actor  in  the  world's  work. 
I  .-ppak  from  experiencp,  for  during  the 
nino  years  last  past  of  my  life,  Rev.  E.  R. 
!  athroi  ,  of  Hastings,  :\[inn.,  made  me  the 
recipient  of  good  letters  like  the  above  at 
regular  ititervals,  never  sutfering  the  cor- 
ros;  onrjonc."  to  flag  because  of  my  inability 
to  resjmnd  regularly. 

Tn  this  way  I  have  l)een  kept  in  touch 
with  my  Conference,  the  events  of  the 
country  whcie  I  labored,  and  the  principal 
movements  of  our  own  times.  By  his 
tlioughtfulness.  he  has  conferred  a  positive 
benefit  upon  me,  nnich  greater  than  he  can 
realize.  Would  that  every  one  who  can 
would  lay  hold  upon  this  source  of  power, 
and  thereby  "strengthen  the  weak  hands 
and  confirm  the  fcH'ble  knees  " 

H'  you  meet  with  anything  in  your  read- 
ing that  is  especially  helpful  to  you,  make 
•'  note  of  it,  or  clip  it  and  jtass  it  on.  What 
will  nourish  your  soul  may  strengthen  and 
cheer  some  one  else. 


50  Conflict  and  Victory. 

"If  y^ii  ve  heard  a  wiso  word  spoken, 

To  a  friend  that  word   impart; 
T  is  a  seed-thought  full  of  blessing, 
riant  It  in  another's  heart." 

Makr  ;i  tour  of  the  nnivtn-sities  and  col- 
leges in  <'omi>any  with  .lohii  R.  Mott,  and 
let  your  soul  drink  in  a  littU>  missionary 
enthusiasm  while  h<"  talks  to  you  about  the 
Student  Volunteer  Movement,  (^o  with 
Dr.  Grenfell  to  th'»  deep-sea  fishermen  of 
I.abrador,  or  lo'low  those  angels  of  li^ht, 
the  deaconesses,  throuji^h  the  slums  of  our 
•?reat  cities,  and  you  will  realize  something 
of  the  power  of  thon^-ht  to  transform  what 
would  otherwise  ho  a  wearisome  hour  of 
sutferinc:  into  one  of  glorious  exaltation. 

Be  an  altruist  in  conversation,  as  well 
as  in  thought.  Try  to  have  something 
helpt'ul  to  talk  about  when  your  nailers 
come  lo  see  you.  Interest  yourself  in  them 
for  the  time  being,  sidetracking  your  own 
troubles,  and  you  may  be  able  to  send  them 
away  strengthened  for  a  better  service     If 


Lessnnfi. 


51 


you  will  ^ivp.  as  well  as  receive,  you  will 
find  that  humanity  is  planned  upon  the 
great  principle  of  reciprocity  and  that  the 
words  of  the  AFaster  are  ever  true,  " T( 
more  l)lessed  to  ijive  than  to  receive.' 

Besides   those   thiugs   which 
life's   definite   plans,   there   are  c 


]S 


come   into 


ounti 


ess 


opportunities  all  along  the  wav  for  doino- 
•  ittle  acts  of  kindness  and  helpfulness 
which  are  of  untold  val 
he  called  to  ifreat   se 


ne.     We  mav  not 


rvice,  hut  as  Chi 


is- 


tian:.  we  are  called  to  a  sympathet 


terest  in  those  wh 


ic  in- 


o  are,  and  it  is  our  dut^ 


to  help  them  when  we  can.  The  widow 
of  Rarepta  could  not  heard  Ahab  or  shake 
Israel,  but  she  eould  bake  bread  for  ,he 
prophet  Elijah,  who  could  and  did  do  both. 


It  is  the  dut' 


lege,  of  ev 


as  it  should  be  the  pri 


VI- 


cry  one  who  acknowledges  him- 


self to  be  a  disciple  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  d 
'lis  heart  whatever  his  hand  finds 


with 


to  do;  and  if  (bo  'whatever'  should  bp  con- 
fined to  the  little  ministries  of  life,   the 


3 2  Conflict  and  Victory. 

privileges  of  this  kind  of  service  siiould 
he  sought  after  the  more  eagerly." 

"The  memory  nf  a  kindly  word  Ions,  long  gnnr  by. 
The  fragranro  of  a  fading  flower,  sent  lovinglv. 
The  gleaming  of  a  sudden  smile  or  sudden  Lar, 
The  warm-^r  pressure  of  the  hand,  the  tone  of  -  heer, 
The  hush  that  means  'I  can  not  speak,   l)ut   I   have 

beard,' 
The   note  that  only   bears  a  verse  from   God's  own 

Word ; 
Such  minor  things  we  hardly  rount  as  ministry, 
The   givers    deeming    they    have    shown    scant    sym- 
pathy : 
But  when  the  heart  is  overwrought— O,  who  ran  toll 
The    power    of    little    things    like    these    to    make    it 
well?" 


Shakespeare  said,  "Sweet  are  the  uses 
of  adversity."  He  did  not  say  sweet  is 
adversity.  He  knew  better.  It  is  often  by 
adversity  that  we  learn  to  apjn-eciate  our 
own  pow(Ms  and  religions  pi-ivileges,  and 
to  place  a  proper  valnation  upon  hniuan 
friendship  and  sympathy.  Th-^  heart  ot 
humanity    is    larger,    warmer,    and    more 


Ltusons. 


oa 


tender  and  sympathetic  than  we  are  apt 
lo  think  it  is.     [t  manifests  itself  in  ad- 
versit.v  as  in  no  otlier  way.     We  see  this 
]i;  the  relief  stations  along  the  lines  of  rai!- 
^\ays  leading  out  of  San  Francisco,  with 
their  supplies  of  food  and  rainment  for  the 
striciveu  ones,  and  in  the  willin<r  service  on 
their  behalf.    Even  tiie  passengers  on  the 
trains  give  up  their  berths  cheerfully  to 
the  more  disabled  ones,  and  vie  with  each 
other  in  ministering  to  their  comfort  and 
necessity. 

Nor  does  it  require  an  eartiiquake  to 
demonstrate  this  fact.  In  my  own  expe- 
rience as  an  invalid  in  traveling  from  place 
to  place,  T  have  realized  something  of  the 
inherent  goodness  of  humanity  in  the 
many  kindnesses  extended  to  me  by  utter 
-trangers,  the  very  memory  of  which  fills 
me  with  emotion  to-day.  To  m.-ntiou  but 
one  journey.  A  lady  with  a  very  kind  face 
came  to  me  and  offered  me  a  glass  of 
wine,   because   she   thought   1    looked    fa- 


54 


Cdiijild  and   Vietary. 


tigued.      Anothei-    prepared    an    egg   and 
milk  and  l)iT)u^lit  il  lo  me,  lioi)ing  thereby 
to  sti-engtlien  me  lor  my  journey.     When 
I    ehaiii,^ed   cars   at    St.    Louis,    the    train- 
hands    carried    me    out    as    tenderly    and 
cheerfully  as  though  I  had  been  a  king,  and 
wiien  my  wile  stepped  on  the  platform,  a 
gentleman   touched    her   on    the   arm    and 
asked,  "Is  this  Afrs.  Cochrane?"     When 
she  looked  up  in  a  strange  face  and  an- 
swered in  tlie  affirmative,  he  said.  "Here 
is  a  wheel-chair  for  your  husband."     He 
was  the  general   passenger  agent   of  the 
road,  and  placed  the  chair  with  a  man  to 
wheel  it  at  our  disposal  while  we  remained 
in   the  depot.     The  station   agent   at  the 
point  of  starting  had  wired  him  after  our 
departure.      Tt    was    an    unexpected    and 
greatly  appreciated  kindness. 

When  we  reached  the  home  depot,  be- 
fore our  own  friends  could  do  anything  for 
me,  the  train-hands  and  depot  agent  had 
taken  me  from  the  car  and  placed  me  in 


Leasonn. 


O.) 


the  carriage  thai  was  awaiting'  lue.  A 
tiioughtl'ul  coiisi.loratioii  on  the  part  ol' 
our  fellow  travt-lei's,  and  the  tiaiii  crews, 
characterized  the  i'ntire  journey  from 
start  to  finish,  and  in  every  case  onr  bene- 
fat'tors  were  entire  slranners  to  ns. 

It  would  s(M'ni  lik<'  an  exai^'geration  were 
T  to  enter  into  detail  in  ))()rtraying-  the 
kindness  ol"  the  })eoi»]e  of  Sliethuid  and 
Loudon,  Ont.,  durini?  our  sojoniii  in  those 
places.  The  cheerful  -alutations.  the  ani- 
mated couversatious,  and  the  many 
thoughtful  attentions,  furnish  me  now 
witli  delightful  tliemes  for  meditation. 

Wherever  T  have  gone  T  liave  found  the 
good  Samaritan  very  much  in  evidence, 
and  T  have  come  to  ])lace  a  higher  value 
upon  the  average  man  and  the  average 
woman  than  T  thought  of  doing  in  the  days 
of  my  health  and  strength. 


CHAPTER  III. 
CONSECRATION. 


"God  forbid  that  I  should  glory,  save  in  the  cross 
of  our  Lord  Jlsus  Christ,  by  whom  tlie  world  is 
crucified  uuto  nie  and  I  uuto  the  world." 

"For  we  :  -e  His  workiiiauship,  created  in  Christ 
Jesus  uuto  goud  works,  which  Cod  liaih  bet'oie  or- 
dained that  we  should  walk  in  theui." 

"Put  on  the  whole  armor  of  Cod,  that  ye  may 
be  able  to  stiiiul  aKaiust  the  uiles  of  the  devil.  For 
we  wrestle  not  against  H.-h  und  blood,  but  against 
pnncipalitie-^.  against  i)ower9,  ntrainst  the  rulers  of 
the  darknfj-  ,,t'  the  \\,,rld,  against  spiritual  wicked- 
ness in  high  i<Ittces." 


COXSHCirATIOX. 


I  beseech  you  tLt-r.-luri'.  br>nhren,  by  the  mercies 

of  UoU,  to  present  your  bodi<--s  w  living  sacrifice,  holy, 

e<  ■eptable  to  iJod,  which  id  your  reasonable  service. 
—  Koin.  xii,  1. 


I\  this  world  life  is  a  conflict.  Every 
good  tiling  in  it  lies  beyond  a  battlefield. 
To  secure  that  which  is  of  real  value,  we 
must  light  our  way  to  it,  and  strive  ear- 
nestly to  possess  and  retain  it.  We  see  this 
in  physical  life,  which,  from  infancy  lo  old 
age,  is  one  continual  battle  with  infirmity 
and  disease.  Every  student  realizes  in  the 
mental  world  that  education  is  a  long  con- 
flict. The  powers  of  the  mind  havf  to  fight 
their  way  through  development  to  strength 
and  maturity.  Pre-eminently  is  this  true 
of    the    spiritual    life,    for   in   it   enemies 

59 


60 


Cunjlict  and   Vktory. 


Ui' 


i''! 


throDP:  onr  way  and  contest  every  step  of 
our  onnard  prooress.     The  whol,.  period 
between  tlie  soul's  conversion  and  its  en- 
trance into  }i..;,v..n  is  a  strenuous  <..,nflict. 
Hence  tlie  appropriateness  of  l>aul's   in- 
junction,  -Be  n..l    overcome  of  evil,    hut 
overcome  eviUvitJ,  ....ud.-'    This  Scripture 
gives  us  tlie  attihi.lo  ,n^.\  purpose  of  the 
Christian  lilV  in  relation  to  evil.    Our  atti- 
tude should  ],e  one  of  continuous  opposi- 
tion, coupled  with  a  fixed  purpose  to  over- 
<onie.    Toniakcmrxi.-lory  permanent,  we 
inu.-t  not  only  v ..,.., uish  the  evil,  but  install 
the    j';ood     "(»v..rrn,ue    ...d    with    good." 
How  shall  this  he  done.'    L.-t  the  author  of 
thi,-'  Scripture  tell  us. 

1.  Hv  ('on.v,,,,(ion.  "Present  vour 
bodies  a  lisin^  .acrillee,  holy,  acceptable 
to  God,  whirl,  is  your  rea'onable  service." 
This  would  Indi<-ate  Mie  .-onsecration  of' a 
life  in  reasonable  service,  which  unist  be 
wholly  unto  the  Lord  to  be  acceptable  to 


Consecration. 


61 


11  im.    Whon  this  is  done  the  essential  re- 
quirement is  met,  and  nothing  can  take  its 
place,  for  in  this  conflict  consecration  is 
first  and  fundamental.    Tlie  first  essential 
in  the  Christian  life  is  personal  attachment 
lo  Christ,  such  as  will  enable  Him  to  reign 
supremely  and  rule  i)erfect!y  in  our  hearts, 
and  in  our  lives.     Such  an  attachment  is 
not  a  mere  passing  emotion  stirred  by  a 
sentimental  hymn,  or  a  i)athetic  anecdote, 
but  a  deep,  strong,  pure  affection  which 
persists  in  every  mood,  shows  itself  in  ac- 
tion, and,  M'hen  occasion  requires,  in  sacri- 
fice for  the  Master. 

The  great  militant  embodied  host,  the 
true  Christian  army  of  earth,  is  composed 
entirely  of  such,  and  none  can  reasonably 
expect  to  conquer,  and  share  in  the  coming 
triumph,  who  do  not  belong  to  it.  .re.sus 
Christ  is  the  center  of  that  army's  unity; 
for  all  believers  are  one  in  Him.  He  is, 
al«o,    the    mainspring    of    their    activity. 


62 


L'onjiict  and   Viriory. 


"Without  xMe  ye  can  do  notliin<i."    L-nite  i 
to  Him  by  savin-  faith,  we  <.an  sav  with 
David,  "The  Lord,. I  ho.l.s  is  with  us:  thn 
God  of  Jacob  is  our  lol'u^v;"'  or  with  Paul, 
in  a  more  vigorous,  iiopcrul  .strain,  "I  can 
fio    all    things    throiigi,    C  li  r  i  s  t    which 
strengthencth  me."     P.ut  ]et  a  believer  in 
Christ  separate  himself  fi-om  Christ  and 
live  upon  his  vigor  of  body,  his  clearness 
of  intellect,  his  past   reputation,  or  emi- 
nence of  jHKsition,  and  ho  will  be  a  miser- 
able failure;  he  will  simply  do  nothing- 
his  vital  strength  is  gone. 

In  our  religious  life  Christ  must  be  all 
and  in  all.     We  can  not  do  without  Him 
in  rhis  world.     Without  His  teaching  and 
life,  we  would  have  no  conception  of  what 
the  highest  moral   excellenc,    is;   without 
His  Spirit,  we  would  be  strangers  to  that 
sublime  power  which  alone  enables  feebln 
man  to  do  Jehovah's  will.    Take  awav  His 
love,  and  you  rob  mankind  of  the  mightiest 
motiv(>  tlu!  am  influence  the  soul  to  con- 


Consecration. 


63 


secration  and  service.  Without  His  prom- 
ises, we  would  have  no  inspiration  to  cheer 
nnd  encourage  us  amid  the  difficulties,  per- 
plexities, and  privations  of  earth.  Without 
His  sacrifice,  there  would  be  no  deliverance 
from  sin,  no  help  in  sorrow,  and  no  pros- 
pect of  heaven  and  eternal  life;  for,  as 
Peter  puts  it,  "Neither  is  there  salvation 
in  any  other." 

It  is  through  consecration  that  we  be- 
come the  possessors  of  the  "power  of  God 
unto  salvation,"  a  power  never  bestowed 
in  all  its  fullness  upon  an  unconsecrated 
man,  a  power  superior  to  the  laws  of 
natural  development,  force  of  will,  or 
moral  habit. 

Consecration  enfranchises  all  our  nobler 
faculties,  and  givps  right  direction  to  the 
life.  In  proof  of  this,  permit  me  to  cite 
you  to  the  lives  of  three  of  the  greatest 
men  in  history. 

Our  first  illustration  is  taken  from  the 
Old  Testament,  and  has  to  do  with  the  life 


64 


r'i 


Confiict  and  Victory. 


and  work  of  Moses,  the  greatest  man  of 
his  day.     The  story  of  his   hirfh,   resoue 
from   death,    education    at    the    Egyptian 
fonrt,  f^iglit  into  Midian,  and  how  he  be- 
came the  shepherd  of  Jethro's  flocks  and 
herds  IS  so  familiar  that  repetition  here  is 
unnecessary.    The  turning  point  in  his  life 
wa.s  when  he  stood  before  the  burning  bush 
at  Mount  Horeb.    The  account  of  the  con- 
secration he  made  tliere  is  given  us  in  the 
third  chapter  of  Exodus.     He  approached 

»">^  phenomenon  in  the  spirit  of  a  devout 
^nqmrer  after  trutli.     -[   will   now  turn 

aside,"  ho  said,  -,nd  see  this  great  sight, 
^hy  the  bush  is  not  burnt."    His  attention 
and    thoughtful    consideration    were    re 
'^a^^ef^'  for  the  record  reads: 
''When    the   Lord   saw   that   he   turned 

aside  to  sec,  (lod  called  unto  him  out  of  the 
midst  of  the  bush,  and  said.  Moses,  A[oses. 
And  he  said.  Here  am  I."  Then  followed 
a  special  revelation  in  these  words-  -r 
am   the   God  of  thy  father,    the   God   of 


Coni^erration. 


65 


Abraham,    the    God    of    Isaac,    and    the 
God  of  Jacob.    ...   I   have   surely   seen 
the    afflctioii    of    My    people    which    are 
in   Egyi)t   and   have   heard   their   cry   by 
reason  of  their  taskmasters;  for  I  know 
their  sorrows;  and  [  am  come  down  to  de- 
liver them  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Eg^^p- 
tians,  and  to  bring  them  up  out  of  that 
land  unto  a  good  land  an<l  a  large,  into  a 
land  flowing  with  milk  and  with  honey." 
To  this  revelation  was  added  the  follox\ing 
eonmiission :    "Come  now  therefore,  and  T 
will   send   thee  unto  Pharaoh,   that   thou 
mayest  bring  forth  My  people  the  children 
of  Israel  out  of  Eg\'pt." 

When  the  interview  closed,  ^^foses  had 
made  his  consecration,  and  accepted  his 
eonmiission.  Xotice  the  change  which  im- 
"lodiately  took  place.  The  scholar  and 
philosopher  no  longer  tarries  in  the  employ 
of  .^otliro  in  the  capacity  of  a  common  hire- 
ling, but  enters  at  once  upon  his  duties  as 

an  emancipator,  a  leader,  and  a  lawgiver 
6 


66 


Conflict  and  Virfort/. 


;.4^;f3-. 


to  his  nation;  wiioro  with  powers  onfi-an- 
chised,  and  a  properly  directed  life,  lie  con- 
ducted to  a  successt'nl  issue  tlie  longest, 
hardest,  and  dreariest  marcli  on  record. 

Header,  where  Moses  stood,  you  stand, 
with  this  difference— you  ai-e  confronted, 
not  with  an  unconsumed  burning'  bush,  but 
with  a  great  system  of  religion,  tlie  Chris- 
tian religion,  whicli  has  been  in  the  furnace, 
not  for  a  few  iiours  only,  but  for  nineteen 
centuries,  and  is  still   blazing  before  you. 
The  fires  of  persecution,  social  ostracism, 
intolerant  bigotry,  and  rationalistic  skeiv 
ticism  have  played  upon  it  without  con- 
suming  or   injuring   it.      Should    not   this 
arouse  within  you  the  spirit  of  honest  in- 
quiry,  and   prompt   you   to   ask   yourseff 
seriously  the  (luestion.  Why  is  it  not  con- 
sumed.'    If  you  will  do  this  your  experi- 
ence will  be  akin  to  that  of  Moses,     (bxl 
will  si)eak  to  you,  reveal  Himself  to  you  — 
blessing  you  with  a  sense  of  youi'  responsi- 
bility—and give  to  you  a  conunission.    As 


Consecration. 


67 


obo.Uonce    to    the    heavenly   vision    lifted 
Moses  out  of  common  servitude  and  gave 
I'ini    n    proiiiiiu'iit    place    among   the    im- 
'Hortnls,    as    the    world's    greatest    Law- 
giver, so  will  consecrated  obedience  to  the 
Divine  will  bring  all  the  greatness  of  being 
that  is  in  yon  to  the  surface,  and  enable 
yon  to  live  out  your  noblest.    If  consecra- 
tion does  not  make  of  you  a  second  Moses, 
It  vill  make  of  yon  as  great  a  man  as  it  is' 
possible  for  you  to  become. 

The  measure  of  man's  vision  and  the 
sense  of  God's  nearness  depend  upon 
Kian's  faith  and  purity  of  purpose.  ''Obe- 
dience is  better  than  sacrifice." 

"Every  faculty  tasked 
To  porcrive  him,  has  gained  an  abyss,  where  a  dew- 
drop  was  nskod. 

Hnv..  [  knowlPdge?    Confounded  it  shrivels  at  Wis- 

'Inm   laid   bare. 
TIav..  I   forethought?     How  purblind,  how  blank  to 

the  In  fin  it.'  Care, 
no  r  task  any  faculty  highest  to  Image  miocess' 
I   but   open  my  eyes-and  perfection,  no  more  and 
no  less, 


68 


Coiijfict  and  Virtory. 


ii" 


In  the  kind  I  Imagined,  full-frouts  me,  and  God  is 
seen  God 

In  the  star,  in  the  stone,  in  the  flesh,  in  the  soul 
and  fli<>  clod. 

And  thus  looking  within  and  around  mo.  I  ever  renew 

(With  that  stoop  of  the  soul  which  in  bending  up- 
raises it  too) 

The  submissic-  of  man's  nothing-perfect  to  God's 
all-complete, 

As  by  each  new  obeisance  of  spirit  1  climb  to  his 
feet." 

Coming  down  to  another  dispensation, 
New  Testament  times,  wo  find  the  same 
thing  to  be  true  of  the  next  greatest  char- 
acter revealed  to  me  in  the  Bible,  Saul  of 
Tarsus,  afterward  Paul  the  apostle.  His 
case  is  familiar  to  us  all.  That  he  lived, 
wrote  the  Epistles  ascribed  to  him,  and 
bore  the  double  character,  lirst  of  a  fierce 
enemy  of  the  Gosi)el,  and  afterwards  of  a 
prea.'her  of  the  faith  which  he  once  de- 
stroyed, sacrificing  all  things,  and  enduring 
all  pains  for  the  sake  of  Christ  his  Master, 
is  as  well  attested  as  any  fact  on  the  page 


-•v.i 

XJ',,  ■ 

/-  .--"  . 

-  ^., 

■,■■  * 

V  J»-r 

>'^- 

--  ^. 

.•='.*. 

-  'V/ 


"^ 


'?>t^ 


Consecration.  59 

of  history.     This  change  ho  tells  us  was 
^nporimtnrnlly  wrought.   Ho  gives  the  day 
t'^*^  ^•<''y  liour  in  which  his  bad  career  waJ 
•stopped,  and  shows  liimself  to  all  the  world, 
fiom  that  nionien.t  onward,  another  man' 
The  contrast   between   his   former  and 
later  connnis.sions,  },etween  the  direction  of 
1^^«  early  jifo  and  that  of  his  later  years 
IS  so  marked  that  its  consideration  may  not 
)e  unprofitable.     Glance  for  a  moment  at 
he   two  commissions   held   by  this   man 
^^  lion  he  first  meets  us  i„  the  splendor  of 
his  young  manhood,  it  is  as  a  fierce  enemy 
of  the  Gospel.     One  who  could  stand  un- 
eondemned  guarding  the  raiment  of  the 
young  men  who  stoned  Stephen.     In  the 
language  of  Dr.  Douglas,  he  was  -  A  reyiler 
and  rejector  of  Jesus,  a  frenzied  persecutor 

0  the  saints,  upon  whose  ear  the  anguish 

01  (lymg  Christians  was  as  sweetest  music 
an<l  m  uhose  eye  the  blood  of  the  faithful 
^-as  as  Orient  light."    What  power  could 


r     .    -r  -- 


i 


ro 


Gmjiirf.  ami  Victory. 


change  such  a  life  and  make  it  suhserviont 
to  riglitcou«no.s .'  That  uo  may  know  ^vllat 
this  man  has  to  say  in  the  li^ht  of  his  own 
exi.erienco  tonching  the  reality  an.)  w.rth 
of  his  consecration,  we  sliall  permit  him  to 
•speak  for  himself. 

"I  think  myself  hapj.y,  King  Aijrippa, 
heoaiis(.  T  shall  answer  for  myself  this  day 
before  thee  ton.-hin-  all  the  things  whereof 
I  am  aeensed  of  the  Jews: 

"My  manner  of  Jifo  from  mv  youth 
^vhich  was  at  the  first  among  mine  own 
nation  at  Jerusalem,  know  all  the  Jews; 
which  knew  me  from  the  beginning,  if  they 
would  testify,  that  after  the  most  straitest 
sect  of  our  religion  T  lived  a  Pharisee. 

"I  verily  thouglit  with  myself,  that  I 
ought  to  do  many  things  contrary  to  the 
name  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  WTiich  thing 
I  also  did  in  Jerusalem;  and  many  of  the 
^samts  did  I  shut  up  in  prison,  Iiaving  re- 
ceived authority  from  the  cliief  priests- 
and  when  they  were  put  i.  death,  I  gavj 


C'oneecratioii. 


71 


my  voieo  against  thorn.     And  I  punished 
thoni  ott    ,n   every  synagogue,  and  com- 
I'olled  them  to  blaspheme;  and  bein-  cx- 
•'t't'dingly  mad  against  them,  1  persecuted 
them   even   unto   strange  cities.     Where- 
upon as  1  uent  to  Damascus  with  authority 
and  commission  from  the  chief  priests,  at 
nuddixy,  0  king,  I  saw  in  the  wav  a  light 
Irom  heaven,  al)ove  tlio  brightness  of  the 
■snii,   shining  round   about  me  and  them 
which  journeyed  witli  me.    And  when  we 
were  all  fallen  to  the  earth,  I  heard  a  voice 
speaking  unto  me,  and  saying  in  the  He- 
J^iow  tongue,  Saul,  Saul,  why  perseeutest 
tl^ou  Me?     It  is  hard   for  thee  to  kick 
against  the  pricks.    And  I  said,  Who  art 
thou,  Lord?     And  He  said,  I  am  Jesus 
whom  thou  perseeutest." 

Thus  the  Great  Confessor  describes  his 
own  conversion.  The  completeness  of  his 
consecration  may  be  inferred  from  his  own 
question,  -Lord,  what  wilt  Thou  have  me 
to  do?"    Paul  gives  us  the  answer  to  this 


m^^msx 


^r   '^^i^^ii^ 


72 


Cwijiici  and  Victory. 


(I 


iiKjuiry  in  the  I'oUowinjj;  Scripture,  which 
constitutes  his  second  commission: 

"Kise,  Mud  stand  upon  thy  I'ect;  for  I 
have  appeared  unto  thee  for  this  i)urpose, 
to  make  thee  a  minister  and  a  witness  both 
of  these  things  wliich  thou  hast  seen,  jmd 
of  those  things  in  the  which  I  will  appear 
unto  thee;  delivering  thee  from  the  people, 
and  from  the  Gentiles,  unto  whom  now  I 
send  thee,  to  oi)en  their  eyes,  and  to  turn 
them  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the 
power  of  Satan  unto  God,  that  they  may 
receive  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  inheritance 
among  them  which  are  sanctified  by  faith 
that  is  in  Me.  Whereupon,  O  King  Agrippa, 
T  was  not  disobedient  unto  the  heavenly 
vision :  but  shewed  first  unto  them  of 
Damascus,  and  at  Jerusalem,  and  through- 
out all  the  coasts  of  Judea,  and  then  to  the 
Gentiles,  that  they  should  repent  and  turn 
to  God.  and  do  works  meet  for  repentance. 
For  these  causes  the  Jews  caught  me  in  the 
temple,  and  went  about  to  kill  me.    Having 


Consecration. 


7 'J 


therefore  obtaiued  help  of  God,  I  continue 
unto  Uiis  day,  witnessing  both  to  small  and 
great,  saying  none  other  things  than  t';ose 
which  the  i>roi)hets  and  Moses  did  say 
should  come:  that  C'hrist  should  suffer,  and 
that  He  should  be  the  firsi  that  should  rise 
from  the  dead,  and  should  shew  light  unto 
the  people,  and  to  the  Gentiles." 

The  Divine  life  in  him  is  not  less  evident 
to  all  who  know  his  history.    His  own  ac- 
count of  the  cliange  which  he  testified  in 
every  place  is  this,  "It  pleased  God,  who 
separated  me  from  my  mother's  womb,  and 
railed  me  by  Ilis  grace,  to  reveal  his  Son 
in  me."    -By  the  Grace  of  God  1  am  what 
E  am."     -Created  in  Christ  Jesus  unto 
good  works."    By  this  testimony  and  the 
spotless  character  which  vindicates  it  to 
the  world,  Paul  still  lives,  a  monumental 
man,  and  -rules  us  from  his  urn." 

In  Old  England,  John  Wesley,  our  third 
eiiaracter,  is  not  likely  to  be'  forgotten. 
There  is  a  marked  contrast  between  his  life 


•  -J- 


74 


Cofij/irt  and   Victory. 


^'".1  t.at  or  Paul  it,  this  pnrtinnlar,  Jol.n 
\\  oslov  m'vcr  antaoumVcl  tlio  Christian  ,v- 
iif^'on.      Iiulccl,    his   syn.patlnVs    uvro   al- 
ways on  the  si.]c  (,r  riohtoousness.    Xursed 
"^  im'ty,  an  a.voni}.lish(vl  scholar,  h.>  lost 
'iothms  or  the  roligious  fianio  kindle,]  in 
his  oarly  youth.    Fi.vd  M'ith  a  zoal  lor  niis- 
.s.onary  enterprise,  he  erosse.l  the  Atlantic 
t"   <-'>m-ort    the    Indians   or   Anu-riea,   and 
*^'"'"^-    ^"'^    ^''^■^^^"'•^'    'h.    luu.an.e   eonseions 
of  the  nee,l  or  a  fuller  <-onseeratIon.  Arter 
••'  '»'-'^'f  mterval  or  unjn-o.Iuet^ve  lal.or.  he 

'■^^^'"■'"'<i  to  lMi«lan<l,  a  sincere  seeker  after 
•■"l^'"I-'-workorKrae,>.  At  a  nieetin^^  held 
n.  Alderso-ate  Street,  I.on.ion,  while  one 
was     ivadin.o-     Luther's     prefa.-,.     to     the 

'^IHstle  to  the  Ron.ans,  lu.  experience,!  such 

an  nnvar.l  chaui-v,  that  he  ever  afterwards 

•;<;^-anle.l  it  as  tl...  supreme  uHuncnt  or  Lis 
lile— Ills  consecration. 

His  own  words  (h-scrihin-  it  are  tliese: 

•'I  Mi  my  heart  stran.i-cly  wanne.l,  [  iVIt 

"'"♦  '  «Ii<l  trust  in  Christ,  (-hrist  alone  for 


Consecration. 


75 


salvation;  and  an  assurauce  was  ^ivcn  me 
lliat  Ho  had  taken  away  .ny  sins,  even  mine, 
and   saved   nio   I'roni  the   'aw  of  sin  and 
deatli."    This    professiou    be    vindicated 
without  wavel■in^^  and  without  weariness 
during-  a   i)eriod    of  fifty-tliree   hiborious 
yo;rs.     lie  wandered  everywhere,  a  mis- 
sionary to  tlio  i.oor—teHin-  the  wondrous 
story  r.f  (lirist's  love,  in  a  manner  that 
left  no  dou])t  it  was  "heart  speaking  to 
heart  with  intuitions  kindled  from  above." 
The  most  ira])ortant  lesson  tliat  bis  life 
teaches  us  is  the  value  of  wbole-bearted, 
complete  consecration   to   dod.     The  his- 
tory of  Christianity,  with,  perhaps  the  ex- 
ception of  l\aul,  has  not  revealed  to  me  a 
consecration  more  unreserved  and  Obrist- 
'Ikc  llian  that  whicli  the  records  of  John 
^\esIey^s    labors    reveal.      Inconvenience, 
privation,     hardsliip.     persecution,     and 
mortal  peril  failed  to  swerve  him   from 
1)'^    i,nvat    life   purpose.     He    could    look 
cabnly  u])r,n  ..;!  the  forces  and  powers  of 


76 


Conffict  and    Victory. 


evil  arraypd  asfainst  liim  and  sav  with  Paul, 
"Xono  of  those  thiu^rs  move  me." 

To  show  you  Iiow  impllcMtly  he  relied 
ujion  (lod,  let  me  ^n've  you  oue  of  many 
incidents  that  mi.u:lit  he  .i»:iv<  i.    In  a  cnieial 
hour  in  the  history  of  th     -reat  Methodist 
movement,  his  brother  Charles  ealied  ujion 
him  to  answer  some  false  accusations  be- 
fore he  left  London  for  a  journey  to  Can- 
terbury in  company  with  liis  niece  Sally. 
When    Charles    returned    home    he    tins 
described  to  his  wife  his  intcrvi<nv  with 
John.    ".John  is  a  most  extraordinary  man 
—I  place!   before   him   every  evil   conso- 
quence  which  could  result  from  his  leaving 
London  just  now  -the  stumblinir  blocks  he 
might  ca.'t   iii  the  way  of  the  weak— the 
advantage  he  gave  to  his  viiemies  and  the 
inj])ortance  of  his  char;.-  ter.     When  I  had 
finished,  he  re])lied  with  the  utmost  calm- 
ness, 'Whon  1  devoted  to  God  my  leisure, 
my  time,  my  foxtuue  and  my  life,  did  I 


Consecration. 


77 


ox.?ei)t  ray  rcimtation  ?    Xo,  tell  Sally  I  will 
take  her  to  Canterbury  to-morrow.'  " 

Can  any  reasonable  person  doubt  that 
1 1  is  consecration  was  the  fontal  fact  of  his 
eventful  life.'  Every  estimate  of  his  char- 
acter is  unworthy  that  does  not  start  from 
this;  and  no  history  in  his  life  can  give 
satisfaction  in  which  this  fi'-t  is  not  dis- 
tinctly a]>prehended. 

Such  was  the  man  who  in  the  name  and 
slrcii^^th  of  the  Almighty  undertook,  over 
a  century  and  a  half  ago,  the  gigantic  task 
('!'  rofonning  what  Archbishop  Seeker 
lustly  called  "An  unhappy  age  of  irreligion 
and  libertinism." 

T)o  not  ihink  for  a  moment  that  I  under- 
value the  decisicm  of  Moses  in  Egypt  when 
by  a  su])reme  act  of  faiiii  "He  refused  to 
be  c.-illed  the  son  of  Pharaoh's  daugliter; 
<•!'  M)sing  ratlier  to  suffer  affliction  with  the 
I'eoph'  of  (lod,  tlian  to  enjoy  the  pleasures 
ol  sin  for  a  season;  esteeming  the  reproach 


78 


Conflct  mill   Victor//. 


of  Christ  groater  riclios  than  ihe  treasures 
in  Egypt;  I'or  he  liad  resi)eet  unto  the 
reconiitense  of  the  reward." 

Xor  would  I  condemn  Paul  for  persecut- 
ing tlie  Church,  when  he  assures  us  that 
he  did  so  conscientiously,  believing  that  he 
did  God  service  in  so  doing.  It  was  this 
life  of  conscious  rectitude,  this  desire  to 
please  God  that  led  him  to  ask  the  question 
at  his  conversion,  "Lord,  what  wilt  Thou 
have  me  to  do?"  And  to  immediately  con- 
secrate his  life  in  service  to  the  Divine 
Master. 

Xo  sensible  man  will  criticise  adversely 
th;^  nurture  and  early  life  of  John  Wesley, 
which  for  the  most  part  was  in  the  right 
direction,  lacking  only  the  cfHcienc\  which 
conseciation  gave  Inm. 

The  consecration  for  u  liicli  [  i>load  must 
be  a  consecration  not  only  "  foi-  stream  side 
villages  and  .|uict  hours,  but  aUo  for  the 
realm  of  business  and  for  the  tiagic  hearts 
of  towns."    It  must  fori^id  no  respectable 


Conncci'dlum. 


79 


pursuit— but  only  rcMiuiro  that  the  callings 
of  lii'e  l)e  rollo\,-o(I  in  a  new  spirit,  tr.  the 
honor  of  God  ami  to  the  beu.^'tit  of  man- 
kind.   This  is  what  Tertullian  pleaded  for 
when  he  said,  "We  are  no  Brahmins,  no 
Indian  devotees,  nc  hermits,  no  exiles  from 
life.    We  are  mindful  of  the  thanks  we  owe 
to  (Jod,  our  Lord  and  Creatoi  ;  we  despise 
not  the  enjoyment  o^'  his  works;  we  only 
temper  it  that  we  may  avoid  exeess  and 
alnise.     We  drrell.  therefore,  with  you  in 
this  world,  not  without  markets  and  fairs, 
not  without  baths,  inns,  shops,  and  every 
kind  of  intercourse — wo  carry  on  commerce 
and  war,  agriculture  and  trade  with  you— 
we  take  part  in  your  juirsuits  and  give  our 
labor  for  your  use." 

A  few  weeks  ag  the  Christian  Guardian 
in  ;in  editorial  »n  ".'applied  Christianitj^" 
bad  ibis  to  s.^y  about  General  Booth,  of  the 
Salvation  .\rmy.  and  Dr.  Wilfred  T.  Greu- 
IVII.  author  and  missionary  to  the  Dtep- 
sea  Fishermen  of  Labrador: 


80 


Cr,tjJiet  auif   Victory. 


"Genera!   Bootli  an<l   Dr.   Greiifell   are 
about  as  unlike  as  it  would  be  possible  to 
ima^'ine  two  men  beinj?,  and  yet  in  talking 
with  them  and   listeuin^^  to  the  message 
they  had  to  deliver  and  interi)reting  it  in 
the  light  of  their  history,  one  can  not  fail 
to  be   impressed   with   a   very   noticeable 
similarity  between  them,  after  all.     Both 
are  men  of  resolute  wills,  of  an  intense 
earnestness  and  enthusiasm,  all  the  more 
romarkablo  since  it  exists  alongside  a  pecu- 
liarly practical  and  business-like  habit  of 
thouglit.     Both  men  strike  one  at  once  as 
being  devout  and  deei)ly  religious,  but  it  is 
the  devoutness  of  men  of  action  and  the 
religion  of  service  rather  than  of  medita- 
tion or  mere  feeling.     They  both  believe 
thoroughly  in  an   applied  Ghrisiianity.  a 
Christianity  that  gives  itself  the  task  of 
working  out  emigration  schemes,  of  estab- 
lishing :-escue  hom-.-s.  of  running  suicides' 
bureaus,  of  carrying  on  co-operative  stores, 
building  liospitals,  catching  whisky  smug- 


Conaecratlo)), 


81 


^lers,  toaohin-  arts  an.l  .-rafts,  instructing 
m  rookery  and  liygiene  and  sanitation,  of 
heli.inff  to  make  life  In-ighter  and  ],appier 
and  less  precarious  for  the  multitudes  who 
soem   to   have   more   than   their   share   to 
'•arry  of  hardsliip  and  suffering.    They  be- 
lieve in  an  intensely  j.ractical  religion,' ami 
tlH'ir  lives  have  been,  and  are  to-dav,  a 
■striking  testimony  to  the  realitv  of  tlieir 
taith. 

"The  world  to-day,  irresj^eetive  of  all 
ereed  or  class,  honors  them  for  that  testi- 
mony, and  lays  its  tribute,  as  it  has  alwavs 

done,  at  the  feet  of  the  men  with  a  passion 
for  helping  their  fellow-men.     That  is  the 
kind  of  religion  men  have  alwavs  had  re- 
spoct  and  reverence  for,  at  least  ever  since 
1'^^^  <■>"«  they  saw  the  Great  Son  of  Van 
'-^^ahng  blind  eyes,  unstopping  deaf  ears 
and  preaching  His  wonderful  Gospel  of  <le- 
hverance    to    the    sin-cursed,    demon-pos- 
^ossed  Galileans.    And  that  is  the  kind  of 
lehgiou  the  world  is  demanding  to-day,  and 

n 


'^^. 


.'::Jt 


82 


Con  fid  and   Victory. 


its  demand  is  au  altogether  just  and  right- 
eous one.  Religion  is  something  more  than 
doing  good.  It  has  to  do  with  a  man's 
relation  to  his  God,  and  it  concerns  itself 
with  the  great  and  vital  facts  of  spiritual 
experience.  But  it  is  still  true  that  a  re- 
ligion that  does  not  manifest  itself  in  good 
deeds  that  seek  the  welfare  of  man  from 
all  points  of  view  is  a  fraud,  no  matter 
what  professions  it  may  make.  If  it  can 
be  proved  that  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ 
makes  in  any  way  for  ine(|ualities  amon^ 
men,  for  i)overty,  for  hardship,  for  suffer- 
ing; yes,  if  it  can  even  he  shown  that  it 
does  not  make  mightily  against  these 
things,  then  the  sooner  wo  look  around  foi 
something  to  take  its  place  the  better.  If 
on  the  otL  r  hand,  examination  shows  u^ 
that  the  fault  is  ours  that  the  Christianity 
of  to-day  is  not  more  helitful.  more  humani- 
tarian, more  socialistic  than  it  is,  then  luul 
we  not  better  try  to  drink  more  deeply  oi 
the  spirit  of  the  Christ  whose  ministry  ol 


Consecration, 


83 


lionliii^^  and  liolpinj,'  was  so  full  that    lie 
had    to   steal    time    for   j)rayer   from    the 
all   too  lew  hours  of  that  eastern   tii^Jit? 
T'-e  worM  needs  au  apijjied  Christianity, 
and  lor  you  and  me  the  point  of  applieation 
IS  the  point  of  contact  l.etween  our  life  and 
that  of  our  fellow-men.    To  be  truly  Chris- 
tian at  "Very  [H.int  of  contact  between  our 
lives  and  tliat  of  our  follows  is  the  ideal  for 
<'a<-h  one  who  names  the  name  of  Christ, 
and  to  cherisli  any  lower  ideal  is  scarcely 
to  be  Christian  at  all. 

"Tlion<,di  we  must  hold  to  the  teaching 
that  the  life  and  obedience  and  death  of 
Christ  made  in  a  nni(|ue  sense  an  atone- 
ment for  men,  yet  it  is  forever  true  that 
tlic  worhl  will  be  .saved  only  as  the  fol- 
lowcis  of  Christ  take  up  and  help  to  bear 
away  the  sin  and  suffering  of  the  world 
as   these   two   remarkable  and   Christ-like 
•lien  have  ])een  doing.    The  religion  that  i.s 
tlH'   most   truly  devout   and   the  most   in- 
tensely spiritual  should  at  the  same  time 


.*^W:-:-  ^' 


^■^  Conflict  and  VicU)ry. 

he  the  raost  broadly  humanitarian  and 
l)rotlu'rly.  And  if  that  is  not  the  type  of 
our  reliijion  wo  are  denying'  Christ." 

"I  hescec'h  you,  therefore,  brethren,  by 
the  mercies  of  God,  to  ])res('nt  your  bodies 
a  living  sacrifiee,  holy,  acceptable  to  (iod, 
which  is  your  reasonable  service." 

"  To  serve  the  present  age,  my  railing  to  fulfill, 
O,  may  It  all  my  powers  engage  lo  do  my  Master's 
will." 


CHAPTER  IV. 
CULT  U  li  E 


'.J 


.T..'.V, 


i>    '  . . 


MICROCOPY    RESOLUTION    TEST    CHART 

ANSI  ond  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2, 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


||||[j,8 

IIIM 

■  36 


1.4 


I  2.5 
III  2.2 

I  2.0 
1.8 

1.6 


_^  ^IPPLIED  IM^GE     Inc 

^—  1653    East    Main   Street 

^..^  Rochester.    Ne«    rork         14609       USA 

•-i^  (716)    482  -  0300  -  Phone 

^^  (716)    288  -  5989  -  Fax 


"And  this.  I  pray,  that  yniir  lovi-  may  nhound  yet 
more  and  inon;  in  kuovvlrd{,'>'  and  all  disoirnment ; 
so  thut  yf  may  approve  llic  ihinus  that  an'  cxocllfnl ; 
tliat  ye  may  be  sincere  and  vnid  of  olTtMio'  unto  tlif 
day  of  Christ ;  Iminf:  fiUcd  with  the  fniil>  of  ri^ditroiis- 
nt'ss,  which  aro  throu(.^h  Jesus  Christ,  iiiilu  llie  Ml<n-y 
and  praise  of  God." 


CULTURE. 

Be  not  conformed  to  this  world  ;  but  be  ye  trans- 
fonned  by  the  renewing  of  your  mind,  that  ye  may 
jirove  wliat  is  that  good,  and  acceptable,  and  perfect, 
will  uf  God.— Horn,  xii,  2. 

I.N  the  previous  chapter  I  ondeavored 
to  sliow  that  ('oiiso('!'ation  of  iitv'  uad  pow- 
(  IS  in  reasoiial)le  service  to  God  is  essential 
to  success  iu  our  contlict  witli  evil.  As  to 
lidw  well  I  succeeded  the  reader  must  be  his 
own  judiic.  in  this  chapter  my  object  is 
to  emphasize  the  efficiency  of  Culture,  and 
assio-n  to  it  its  ])roper  place  in  the  inevi- 
tahle  conflict  of  ijood  and  evil. 

Before  vre  can  transform  society  and 
ovei'come  evil  we  must  ourselves  be  trans- 
formed. TTow  shall  this  1  e  done?  By  the 
renewinjr  of  our  minds.  This  necessitates 
the  further  inquiry,  TTow  sliall  we  renew  a 

b7 


88 


Cdlijiat  did!    VirfnriJ. 


mind.'    .lust  ns  we  rcnt-w  a  muscle — by  ex- 
erei  e  and  use. 

"Be  thou  an  onsamplo  to  thorn  that  believe,  in 
won],  in  iiiaiiiK  r  of  lite,  in  love,  in  faith,  in  purity. 
Tin  r  conic,  give  liccd  to  reading,  to  exhortation,  to 
tcacliing.     X.'glect  not  the  gilt  ihat  is  in  thee." 

AVo  hrinn  with  us  into  this  world  a  new 
mind  wliidi,  if  wo  are  enerj^etic  a  .d  genu- 
inely progressive,  will  he  many  times 
renewed  in  the  eours(>  of  a  life-time.  Our 
first  renewing  is  in  the  home  and  in  the 
puhlie  school .  wliere  M'o  master  a  language 
so  as  t(»  he  able  to  use  it  in  the  practical 
affairs  of  life.  We  give  this  renewed  new 
mind  another  renewal  in  the  High  School, 
the  College,  and  the  Post-graduate  Course; 
nnd  with  each  renewing,  there  is  a  corre- 
sponding transformation  of  life,  character, 
and  influence. 

Tliere  is  a  very  marked  contrast  between 
the  man  of  culture  and  the  illitei-ate  man. 
The  mental  faculties  of  the  one  have  been 
trained    and    disciplined    until    they    are 


Culture. 


89 


strong  and  ouergolic;  llioso  of  the  otlier 
liave  ])0(^onie  iitroijhi'jd  through  disuse. 
Tho  mind  of  the  one  is  in  a  healthy,  vigor- 
ous condition,  while  that  of  the  other  is 
practically  dead.  The  one  is  au  illustration 
of  transformation  l)y  mental  renewing,  the 
other  of  deformation  through  its  neglect. 
Hence  we  do  not  wonder  that  Peter  should 
give  us  this  injunction,  "Add  to  your  faith 
knowledge,"  or  that  Paul  should  condeum 
a  zeal  that  is  not  according  to  knowledge. 

Another  question  that  confronts  us  here 
is,  why  this  mental  renewing?  The  answer 
is  at  hand.  It  is,  "That  we  may  prove  what 
is  that  good,  and  accei)tahle,  and  perfect 
will  of  God. "  Notice  the  three-fold  charac- 
teristic of  the  will  of  God — good,  accept- 
ahle,  perfect. 

At  the  risk  of  ])eing  criticised  adversely 
lor  my  exegesis,  I  affirm  that  anything  that 
will  lift  humanity,  he  it  ever  so  little,  out 
of  pure  devilislmess  is  God's  good  will  to 
the  race;  because  it  is  force  exerted  in  the 


90 


Coujiict  'iml    1  I'iiirij. 


rl,!?bt  (liroction.  IT  the  small  lift  is  all  tliat 
(•oiiditious  will  warrant,  or  circuuistaijci-s 
pt'riiiit.  it,  tlicii,  constitutes  God's  acccpl 
al)le  will.  Our  oiMcctivi-  i)oint  must  ever 
bo  tlie  ])orfe(t  will  ol'  (led,  toward  this  wo 
must  labor  with  unwearie(l  /cal  and  active 
love,  aiid  for  this  blessed  consunuuatiou  we 
are  taugbt  to  ever  i»ray,  "Thy  will  be  done 
in  oartli  as  it  is  in  lu-aven.'" 

It  re(iuires  a  trained,  capable  mind  to 
discriminate  between  that  which  is  ephem- 
eral in  the  line  of  reform,  and  that  which 
is  of  permanent  value  to  the  i-ace;  hence 
the  necessity  for  culture  as  a  factor  in  this 
conflict. 

How  can  any  man  judge  an  event,  or 
movement  which  has  its  causes  far  back  in 
history,  who  has  never  carefully  studied 
hi>tory?  ^\^lat  to  liim  is  the  record  of  the 
past,  with  its  moi-al  interregninns,  its 
renaissance  and  splendid  rert>nu^.'  Simply 
nothing.  His  mental  horizon  i-  bomided 
by  hi.s  ov.  11  lii'.  ic  cxijci-icuce  in  life.     Such 


(Jul  tare. 


\)\ 


a  mail  is,  clearly,  in  tlio  very  nature  ol' 
I  Iliads,  (iis(iualiti(>tl  I'or  v-apable  leadership, 
and  is,  i;enerali>-  speaking,  a  very  hard 
man  lo  lead.  Ik'  is  almost  sure  to  fail  in 
appreciatinii  the  transiormation  his  lead- 
ers are  endeavoring  to  l)ring  ahont.  Such 
persons  make  the  work  of  the  reformer 
tedious,  and  taxes  to  the  limit  of  endurance 
iiis  patience. 

We  have  seen  the  necessity  of  consecra- 
tion in  the  lives  ol  Moses,  Panl,  and  Wes- 
ley. The  reader  will  j)lease  hear  with  me 
wliile  we  consider  what  culture  did  for 
these  three  transcendently  great  men. 

Aloses,  the  greatest  character  in  the 
drama  of  the  Exodus,  was  schooled  in  all 
the  learning  oi'  the  Egyptians  — a  s])lendid 
iidellectual  foundation.  To  this  was  added 
the  wilderness  training  foi'  forty  years  he- 
I'oi'e  his  greiit  life  work  began.  To  some 
those  foi"tv  vears  might  seem  wasted,  but 
they  wer(^  not.  They  were  onl\'  a  conlimi- 
atioii    of    needful    discipline.      .Moses    had 


92 


Conjlici  and   Victory. 


learned  much,  but  bo  liad  iiood  to  loarn 
more,  so  God  took  liirn  i'rom  tlie  schools 
of   Kgypt   aud    i)lacod   Liiii   in    the   great 
University   oi"    Xatnrc    for   pust-graihiate 
work,  where  ho  would  have  time,  solitudo, 
and  the  desert   for  his  teachers.     WTiat 
could  they  teach  him  ?    Tiio  value  of  knowl- 
edge already  gained.    It  was  well  for  him 
to  be  educated   iu  all   the  wisdom  of  the 
Eg^'ptiaiis;  but  wisdom  improves  l)y  keep- 
ing, needing  time,  meditation,  aud  reflec- 
tion to  rii)on  it.    He  would  also  receive  new 
knowledge.    True,  he  had  few  books,  if  any, 
of  man's  making;  but  the  book  of  Nature 
in  its  solitude  and  grandeur  invited  study, 
aud  the  knowledge  of  the  desert,  as  well 
as  that  of  the  i)alace,  would  be  needful  to 
him  by  and  by.     Then,  too.  lie  was  a  little 
rash  when  ho  graduated  I'lom  Egypt,  and 
his  wilderness  training  not  only  made  him 
a  wiser  man,  but  a  better  man— for  there 
it  was  that  he  learned  to  believe  aud  trust 
in  the  great  "I  Am."    Tbat  cufurced  life 


Culture. 


93 


in  the  desert  became  as  important  a  part  of 
li.e  training-  of  Moses  as  his  life  at  Avis 
It  ac(|iiaiiite(l  him  with  the  wiklerness  of 
the  wandering",  its  resources,  mode  of  life, 
and  those  other  children  of  Abraham,  the 
Midiauites,  where  he  found  a  ^vife  of  the 
seed    of    Abraham,    and     .^AmYc    he    met 
.icthro,  whose  wise  counsels  led  to  an  im- 
I'ortant  policy  for  all  the  future  of  Israel. 
His  associates  in  Midian  and  mode  of  life, 
simple  and  uuartificial,  were  a  wholesome 
correction  to  the  luxury  of  Egypt;  while 
his  occupation,  caring  for  Jethro's  flocks, 
on  that  Avild  Sinaitic  peninsula,  would  de- 
velop watchfulness,  skill,  caution,  self-re- 
liance, bravery,  and  tenderness— qualities 
iMdis])ensable  in  a  leader.     Without  this 
l>r(>paration,  he  never  could  have  become 
the  great  prose  writer,  the  exulted  poet, 
tlio   remarkable   theologian,   the   inspired 
pbiloso]iher  and  i^rophet,  the  wise,  just, 
I'atriotic  statesman,  and  peerless  leader  of 
his  ])eople. 


94 


Conflict  avil  Victory. 


Hi  • 


In  the  case  of  j'aiil  we  liavc  a  strikiii.n 
illustration  of  the  traiisfdrmiiii;  iiowcr  of 
culturo.     Voii(l-M-  he   starts  out    from   ijic 
lionu'  of  an  exiled  .lew,  "heiil   on   niakinii: 
the  most  of  himself.     In  inumiiiation  I  si-e 
him,  earl\    in  life,  mastefinii'  in  his  native 
town  a  <lreek  pliilosoiijiy  ihat  i-i\alle(l  Dial 
of  Athens — eouqnerini;'  and  eompreheiidin^- 
Roman  Law — eastini;  himself  at  the  feet  oi 
Gamaliel  with  his  whole  intrllectnal  hein.i; 
ahsorhed  in  the  stndy  t»f  Ilehri'w  Sci-ipture 
and  K'ahhinieal  literature."     He  lieuan  his 
^reat    life   work    with    Intellectual    powers 
developed   and   diseipllneil    in   the   hest   of 
seliools.  and  under  the  most  accomplished 
teaebers.    I, ike  Moses,  he  was  <leve!oped  on 
his  moral   side,   having',   as  one   has   \-er\- 
fittiug'ly  obsei'ved,  "An  unusual  measure  of 
candor,  miselfisliness,  ]»urit\-,  courage,  and 
I'ecliiude. "    ('oleridi>-e  pays  thi.>  tribute  to 
bis    scliolarsbip:     '"I    think   Saint    Paul's 
Ei)istle   to   tlu^    Romans   is   the   most    ])i'o- 
found  work  in  existence."     in  his  siuijle- 


Cult 


lire. 


96 


noss  of  aim  and  pcrsistcnov  of  purpose,  ho 
stands  forth  ujiun  history's  pa^c  a  unhpie 
cxamph'  for  us.  Without  his  marvelous 
pi'cpa ration,  how  iiic  pure  uoid  would  have 
I'ocn  dimmed,  and  life's  purposes  have  lan- 
:j;uishe<l! 

The  utilitarian  miuht  say,  "Of  what 
value  is  K'oman  Law  to  a  .Jewish  youth,  or 
(ireek  i>hilosophy  to  an  unknown  hoy.' 
rUit  wait  a  moment;  that  vouth  shall  vet 
confound  tiie  iJoniiiu  oHicer  hy  liis  superior 
kno\vIe<l<;('  of  Uoman  F.aw,  and  his  claim 
to  lioman  citizenshi]).  That  insiyfiiificant 
lookiiiii'  Jewish  hoy  shall  yet  (h'clare  to  the 
(Ireek  jihilosophers.  teachers,  and  poets  of 
the  Areoi)agus,  the  Infinite  Father  of  all, 
;ind  the  sulilimc  doctrine  of  the  brother- 
hood of  man."  Tlis  oonscerato*!  culture, 
mid  praitical  sau'acity  shall  yet  ]irevent 
ittlicr  le;idei-s  iVom  mnkiuji;'  the  early 
*'lnirch  a  .ludaic  institution,  cumhered  by 
tradition  and  ceremonialism. 

\\ hen    we    take    into    considei'ation    his 


Of? 


Conjfh't  (1 11  if  Yictory. 


native  qualities.  Iijs  superior  attainnionts, 
and  liis  woudeitul  consecration,  we  are  not 
surpi-iscd  tlial  as  lie  stood  in  yonder  ])ro- 
consulai- court,  tiiouuli  a  pi-isonei'  in  bonds, 
liis  words  were  so  powei'ful  and  eonvincinj^ 
that  even  I''eli\  Ireiiihled.  ;ind  A,!;i-ipi)a  wa.s 
almost  jiersuailed  to  be  a  ("iiristian. 

.John  Wesley  was  an  earnest,  thorough 
student  from  the  very  begiiniing— a  logi- 
vian,  philosopher,  theohygian,  and  leader  of 
men  when  only  twenty-three  years  (d"  a;^e. 
His  voyage  to  America  gave  liim  time  for 
refieetion  and  meditation,  and  added  to  his 
classic  lore  <ind  logic  a  nee/Uul  knowledge 
of  men  and  things.  An  al)le  critic  in  paint- 
ing, poetry,  music,  classics,  literature,  phi- 
losopiiy,  and  tlieology,  he  was  the  peer  in 
his  intellectual  endowments  of  any  literary 
man  of  that  most  literary  age. 

Of  what  value  are  all  thes(>  aceoraplish- 
nien's  to  a  man  against  whom  every  church 
door   in   Kngland  is   closed,   and   against 


Cult 


Ul'C. 


97 


"  iioin 


X 


owspni'or  wi'iicr.s.  niorcilc-^- 


•  •nt 


llU'Cili 


ic-.  I'ondoron.s  professor-,  jiiid  d 
•liuiiitjirics  ;iiiii(>(l  tlu'ii-  licnviot  Ijuiccs  of 
r'"iil'lii<'t.  I'lx.k,  ;iii(l  stately  treatise?" 
His  llKtrou.nii  preparat 


I'll   (•iiai)ie( 


1  I 


mi]  to 


cross  swords  with  aiiv 


iviiiu'  man  and 


V  aii\-  \\){ 


eon- 


IlKl 


Iroiit  ealiiily  and  conlidcnt 
ni  tlie  realm  of  tliooIo,y-y  to  differentiate  i)e- 
twe,.n  tlie  effete  and  tliat  wliieh  is  of  p,.r- 
manent  \aliie. 

In  proof  of  this,  let 
words  of   Dr.    Doiii^ln 


me  refer  yon  to  tlio 
s,   one   of   ('ana<la's 


most  seholarl}-,  eloquent  d 
'  <'ntnrv.    Tn  addr 


'i\ines  of  the  last 


'^•<slng■  a  class  of  tl 


loolojr- 


i'-al    students,   he   has    this    t 
Methodist  Theology:    "W! 
fcred  it?     Fev  tweutv 
.1 


o    sav   a 


hout 


10  lia-^  ever  ma^ 


)een 


.vears   I   liave 
iHieavormg:  to  tcaeh  it,  and  yet  I  am  stand- 
gin  of  appreliending  its 


mg  as  on  tlie  mar 

snhlimity.    The  more  ])rofe.midlv  I 


ook  at 


it,    the    more   d 


oes    i 1 ^ 


rrand 


P 


i\(>rv 


th 


enr   a p) tear, 


t'ologieal    system    formulated 


98 


ConjJict  ainf  Virfory. 


thronixh  the  n.ii'os  has  contributed  its  best 
ek^moiit.s  while  their  rallacies  ha/o  been  re- 
pudiated. 

"It  ac'('ei)ts  tlie  Au,i»iisliiiiaii  dodriue  of 
siiK  but  ]"(',i(.>(*ts  its  theory  oT  (U'crees.  It 
accejits  the  l*ela.yiaii  dodrine  i;f  the  will, 
but  I'ojeets  its  denial  of  luniKiii  (U^pravity 
and  the  necessity  of  s[tiritnal  aid.  It  ac- 
eeit'is  in  ])ajt  the  moral  inflnenci^  theory  of 
Abelaid.  and  the  substituticnial  t'.jory  of 
Anselm  relativ(.'  to  the  work  of  Christ,  bnt 
utterly  rejects  tlie  rationalism  of  the 
former  and  the  -jnid  )  ro  ([no  of  the  latter. 
It  accepts  the  Perfectionist  theory  and 
dc(^p  s))iritnality  tauu'ht  b}-  Pascal  and 
the  Port  Royalists.  l)nt  rejects  their  Qniet- 
ist  teacliinu's,  wliich  destroy  a!!  tlie  benevo- 
lent activities  of  Christian  life.  It  accepts 
ibe  doctrim^  of  nni\(>rsnl  redemption  as 
tan<j;ht  by  the  early  Ai'minians,  bnt  is  care- 
ful to  reject  Ihe  seini-[*ela2:ian  laxity 
whi<'h  rnarlc.>  ili.  teacbin.xs  of  the  later 
t:cho(»l  of  Ivemonstrants.    It  joins  with  the 


Cultnre. 


99 


sovprnl  Socinian  and  Universalis!  schools 
111  exalting  the  houevoleuce  and  mercy  of 
<io.].  hut  ncvor  laltor.s  in  its  declaration  of 
!l"'  perpetuity  of  punishment.    Ma|?nifying 
tlie  criieiency  of  Divine  grace  with  the  most 
earnest  of  Calviuists,  it  at  the  same  time 
asserts  that  salvation  is  dependent  on  tlie 
volitions  of  a  will  that  is   radically  free. 
Gcnei-ous  as  God's  own  sunlight,  it  looks 
every  man  in  tlio  face  and  says,  'Christ 
died  for  you.'    It  publishes  the  glad  evan- 
,2:el  of  an  indwelling  and  witnessing  Siurit 
in  the  heart.     It  liolds  out  the  j.ossihility 
of  a  victory  over  tlio  apostate  nature  by 
assorting  a  sanctification  which  is  entire, 
and  a  i)erfpction  in  love  which  is  not  ulti- 
niato  and  final,  b-it  progressive  in  its  de- 
velo})ment  forever." 

In  tlio  great  and  massiv(^  thought,  the 
burning  contemi^lations  which  he  gave  to 
t]ie  world,  wc  behold  the  profound  scholar, 
(be  genuine  philosopher,  the  man  of  cul- 
ture. 


I 


100 


Confiict  and  Vicf'yry. 


It  is  uoteworthy  tliat  in  each  of  tlioso 
three  groat  characters,  the  decision  lor  (Jod 
and  righteousness  was  nuuk'  in  the  early 
]>rinie  of  manhood — made,  not  I)y  liermits 
whi)  liad  not  tash'd  life's  cuii  of  jtleasure, 
nor  by  sated  worldlings  in  wliose  mouth  it 
had  turned  to  l)itterness  — made  when  life 
was  in  its  summei-  and  they  were  (MU^om- 
f)assed  witli  its  gladness  and  nuisic  aiul 
flowers — with  everything  at  liand  which  it 
is  deemed  most  costly  to  sui-rendcM-,  they 
stepped  forth  in  the  sight  of  the  world — 
took  the  crown  of  their  manliness  and  cast 
it  linmhiy  at  the  feet  of  tlieii-  T.ord.  This 
created  them  champions  of  tlie  liberties  of 
men  and  made  their  lives  sublime. 

"The  word  had  breath,  and  wrought 

With  hiininn  hands  tin-  crood  of  creeds, 
In  loveliness  of  perfect  deeds. 
More  strong  than  all  poetic  thought." 


Reader,  the  greatness  of  your  achieve- 
ments  will   be   measured   by   the   inherent 


Culture.  \{)\ 

i<reatness  of  your  personality.     Whatever 
IS  jiossible  to  you,  complete  eouseeratiou  to 
(iod  will  briug  out.    1  do  not  say  you  will 
!  ival  :\Ioses,  Paul,  or  Wesley  iu  what  you 
i>iay  1)(.  able  to  bring  to  pass;  tliat  would 
Ix'  vicious  fanaticism.    In  these  men  we  find 
greatness  of  an  unusual  order.    Theirs  was 
a  greatness  of  j)ersoua!ity,  of  preparation, 
and  of  consecration.    Is  it  to  be  wondered 
at    that    their   achievements    were   corre- 
spondingly great? 

Milton  says,  "The  end  of  learning  is  to 
know  God,  and  out  of  that  knowledge  to 
love  ]Iini  and  to  ijnitate  Ilim,  as  we  may 
the  nearest,  l)y  possessing  our  souls  of  true 
virtue."  It  is  thus  that  culture  when  con- 
secrated to  Ood  heli)s  us  to  overcome  tlie 
<'vil  within  lis  and  install  in  our  hearts  a 
Invc  of  I'ightoousness. 

Thor(>  is  at  the  present  writing  a  man 
in  America  uhu,  because  of  his  champion- 
shi].  of  civic  and  moral  righteousness,  has 
become  a  recognized  world  force.    I  refer 


102 


Conjiict  (did    Vi'-tory. 


i 


to  Tlieodcrc  Rooscvolt,  whoso  consecrato<l 
culture  enables  him  to  rightly  estimate  the 
forces  of  good  aud  cvii.  This  is  plain  from 
his  own  words.  "The  forces  that  tend  for 
evil  arc  cfrcat  and  tcrriolc,  h\\\  the  forces 
of  truth  and  love  and  conra<>(>  and  honesty 
and  generosity  and  symi)athy  are  also 
stronger  than  e\  er  before." 

Jn  this  conilict  the  contril>ntion  of  men 
possessed  of  Christian  culture  can  hardly 
be  overestimated.  T  think  it  would  be  im- 
possible for  me  to  overstate  it.  With 
Bishop  Newman,  I  believe  "A  university 
training  is  the  great  ordinary  means  to  a 
great  but  ordinary  end.  it  aims  at  raising 
the  intellectual  tone  of  society;  at  cultivat- 
ing the  ])ublic  mind,  at  purifylui'-  the  na- 
tional tnste,  at  supplying  true  principles 
to  popular  enthusiasm  and  fi'eer  aims  to 
popular  aspiration,  at  giving  eidargement 
and  sobriety  to  the  ideas  of  the  age,  facili- 
tating the  exercise  of  political  ])0wer,  and 
refining  the  intercourse  of  private  life." 


Cult 


lire. 


"Leap  forth,  O  thought,  in  man  divino. 
And  iJiosTfSs  wake  iu  every  climo. 
The  light  is  thine  |   No  chains  can  bind. 
Thy  onward  march  lo  lift  the  mind, 
To  see  the  truth  so  Iniglit  and  fair,— 
A  guardian  angel  debonair. 
Lift  thou,  upon  thy  mighty  arms, 
The  race  of  man  to  holitr  charms, — 
To  loftirr  trutlis  along  Ihc  line, 
That  niake.s  tliid  aijo  iu  lu.sior  shine. 


loa 


Leap  forth,  O  thought,  to  freedom  born, 
Though  thou  dost  meet  the  tyrant's  scorn, 
Inspire  lo  arti(m  true  and  Ijold, 
To  gain  for  man  the  stniigth  lo  hold. 
His  rightful  place  as  God  decreed  ! 
And  ever  may  the  power  recede, 
That  seeks  in  thraldom  man  to  hind. 
And  ever  lead.^  with  forces  blind." 


CHAPTER  V. 
CO-OPEKATJOy. 


■■■■%>\- 


a-l'i^ 


"Thoy  holpod  ovpry  ono  liis  npit,'hhnr;  and  every 
one  Miiil  to  Icis  IiimiIk  r,  JJc  uf  fioud  cuuruge," 

'■|-(ir  !i>i  thi'  Imdy  is  one,  and  liiitli  many  members, 
jind  ;ill  till'  memliers  of  tlie  body,  being  many,  are 
one  Viixly:  m>  .'ilso  is  (."lirist." 

"Anil  lie  guv  I'  some  to  be  ajiostles;  and  some 
I)rn|iliets;  and  some,  evangelists;  and  some,  pastors 
MHiJ  leacliers:  for  the  perfecting  of  the  saints,  untcj 
the  wnik  1)1'  ministering,  unto  the  building  up  of  ihe 
iHjdy  of  (  hrist  •  till  \V(>  all  attain  tnitu  the  unity  of 
the  I'ailii.  u'k!  of  tlie  know  led  ;,'(■  of  tlie  Son  of  ( i(xJ , 
unto  M  fiiH-grown  man.  unio  ihc  measuri'  of  the 
stature  of  tlie  fuJluesa  of  (Jiirist." 


CO-OPERATION. 


For  I  Pay,  through  tho  grace  given  unto  me.  to 
•  ■very  man  that  is  among  you,  not  to  think  "f  hlmxclf 
muro  highly  than  lie  ought  to  think:  hut  to  tiiink 
.soberly,  according  as  God  hath  dralt  to  every  man 
Ihe   measure   ot  faith. 

For  as  we  have  many  members  in  one  body,  and 
all  members  have  not  the  same  office:  so  we,  iHiuij 
many,  are  one  body  in  Christ,  and  every  one  members 
one  of  another. 

Having  then  gifts  differing  according  to  the  grace 
that  iE  given  unto  u-,  whether  prophecy.  Irt  „s  pr<>i,h>si, 
according  to  the  proportion  of  faith;  or  ministry, 
ht  lis  irnit  on  imr  ministering;  or  he  that  teachcth, 
on  teaching;  (,r  he  that  exhorteth,  on  exhortation: 
he  that  givef.i,  Irf  him  ,h,  it  ^vith  simplicity;  he  that 
ruleth,  vMth  diligence;  he  that  sheweth  mercy,  with 
cheerfulness. 

Let  lovo  be  without  dissimulation.— Rom.  xii.  3-9. 


After  we  have  overoome  the  evil  within 
hy  cousecratiou  arid  culture,  we  arc  to  as- 


107 


108 


Cimfiri  and    V'utory. 


I    * 


sist  in  its  overthrow  without.  The  internal 
l)attle  fits  us  for  the  external  conflict.  We 
are  saved,  not  for  hai)])iness,  but  for  serv- 
ice. Every  saved  man  is  a  commissioned 
man,  and  finds  hapi)iness  in  the  carrying 
out  of  iiis  commission,  for  "doy's  soul  lies 
in  the  doing." 

In  Paul's  (hiy  he  saw  the  necessitv  for 
combined  effort  on  tlie  ])art  of  the  forces 
of  righteousness.  lie  found  his  worlv  liam- 
pered  by  an  exclusive  partisan  spirit  which 
he  branded  with  the  stamp  of  carnality. 
One  faction  said,  "'1  am  of  Paul ;"  another, 
"I  am  of  Apollos;"  and  a  third,  "1  am  of 
Cephas."  To  which  Paul  made  answer, 
''Who,  then,  is  Paul,  or  Apollos,  or  Cephas 
hut  ministers  ])y  whom  wo  1)elieved?" 

Wliile  condemning  the  partisan  spirit,  he 
showed  them,  also,  that  their  highest  good 
was  the  result  of  co-oj)eration,  for  did  he 
not  say,  "I  have  planted,  Apollos  watered, 
God  gave  the  increase?"  ''We  are  labor- 
ers together  with  God." 


Co-ojyfrittinn .  |  qq 

As  Christians  uo  arc  in   this  world  to 
••ontrilintc  what  wo  can  toward  the  }mild- 
i'lff  np  of  Christ 's  king(h)m.    Anything  that 
will  tend   in  tiiis  dirccticni   should   rocoiv 
onr  s\nnj)athy  and  co-oporation.    This  (h)os 
not  in  any  sonso  confhct  with  loyalty  to  the 
local  ( 'Imrch.  no,-  slionid  it  canso  us  to  relax 
our  effort  in  making  the  Church  to  which 
we   belong  as   efficient,   strong,   and   influ- 
ential  as  possible.     The   local   Church    is 
our  college  lor  j)ersonal  training,  hut  the 
world  is  our  university  for  post-graduate 
work  where  the  altruistic  spirit  is  to  pre- 
<loniinate.      The    home,    the    Church,    the 
world  liavo  all  strong  claims  upon  us  which 
can  not  be  ignored  without  doing  positive 
iujury  to  the  kingdom  of  righteousness. 
Xo  man  can   ])e  reasona])ly  censured  for 
true  loyalty  to  his  home,  or  In's  Church; 
neither  can  any  man  be  exonerated,  from 
the  Christian  iHoint  of  view,  who  does  not 
have  a  deo})  interest  in  the  reformation  of 
the  world.     Jesus  said,  "I  will  build  Mv 


110 


CiilitJirf   It  11(1     Vii'tii)'!/^ 


Cliurcli,  ;iii<l  th."  .mit.--  of  hell  >liall  not  yro- 
v;iil  ai^niinst  it."  'l'lii>  iitt.-i;iM<-(.  (,r  th,. 
iiivjitcsf  authority  is  an  ;issiir;iric('  t(»  us 
tliat  tlu'  Cliurch  of  Jesus  Christ  in  tlic  earth 
is  the  i;ceati'>t  potent  factor  in  overcouiiuii- 
evil  with  yood. 

Tile  co-oi^'ration    foi-   whi.-h    I    plea«l    is 
wliat   John    \Ve>ley   Iuk.    in   view   when    lio 
saiti.  "I   want  a   lea.y-ue  ori'ensi\-e  ami  do- 
ffiisive.    with     every    soldiei-    of    Jesus 
Ciii-ist."     My  attitude  is  one  witli  iJishop 
Sim})sou   in  the  declaration.  "We   live  to 
make  oui-  own  Church  a  power  t'or  .yood  in 
the   land,  Jnit    we   will    live   t,,    jove   every 
other    Churcli    that    e\alt->    ..ur    Chii.^t." 
Were    sucli    a    spirit    poss.vs.ed    hy    everv 
individual    C'hrisiian.    what    an    invincihio 
power  the  Church  of  Christ  would  hecojue 
in  the  overthiow  of  evil.      Ihnv   soon  the 
^iant   wrouo-s  that   strive  detianlly  in  our 
eivilization  would  be  smitten  and  die. 

Not  only  did   Paul   see   in   his  day   the 
danger  of  the  partisan  spirit  in  religion, 


(Wojn  ruf  111)1, 


11 


I'Ut  )i(>,  also,  re('oirnize<l  anotii.M-  <lan,^or  to 
winch  li(.  ,.alls  our  special  att(>iitiou  in  tiio 
(■liaj>ter  now  undor  consideration.  T  refer 
fo  e^'otistical  tliinkinir.  His  admonition  is 
tins :  '"For  |  say,  throu.nh  the  ,<»raee  given 
unto  me,  to  every  man  that  is  among  you, 
not  to  think  ,>j  It'twsrli  more  highly  than 
he  ongiit  to  think." 

Why  the  division  of  Christendom  with 
the  resultant  loss  of  energy  as  seen  in  the 
(ircek  Clmrch,  tlie  Roman  Catholie  Church, 
and  the  Estahlislied  Churcli  of  Kngland? 
Is  it  not  due,  largely,  to  thinkiii'^-  too  highly 
of  themselves  and  their  systejus  that  they 
do  not  co-oi>erate  earnestly  and  lovingly 
with  each  other  in  every  good  word  and 
work  .' 

P^gotistical  thinking  creates,  or  tries  to 
create,  a  si)iritual  aristocracy.  It  is  the 
mother  of  intolerance,  tlie  jn-olific  cause  of 
schism  in  the  l)ody  of  Christ.  It  exalts 
cant  and  bigotry,  i)romotes  jealousy  and 
strife,  and  leads  to  unseemly  competition 


:^J^ 


112 


Conjlit  iiikJ    Virfory. 


.'ind  waste  ol' piici'oy.  It  i>  (»|ti)oso(i  1o  tin 
spirit  and  Icadiinus  (»!'  Clirisl  atid  the 
apostlos.  Til  Ili>  paral.lc  of  th..  (iuod 
Saiiiarilaii.  ( 'lni-t  iiiili(>,-itatiii,i4l\-  I'oii.icinns 
llio  exclusive  eeclesiastieism  wliieli  passes 
I>y  (HI  the  othei'  side,  and  i;ives  His  iin(|nali- 
Hed  approval  to  ;lie  iioneont'orniily  wliich 
synipatiii/es  witli  and  iiiiiiistcrs  to  tlie  woes 
of  tiieii;  to  that  lo\-e  of  Imiiiaiiity  wiiieli 
reeeives  and  treats  the  -tran.yer  as  though 
ho  were  a  hosoin  Irieiid. 

Paul's  eiire  Tor  this  .'gotistical  thinking 
is  "To  think  soIxm-Iv,  aeordiim'  a>  (Jod  hath 
d<'alt  to  (nery  man  tlie  iiieasiu'c  ot'  t'aith." 
When  we  i;et  <hiwn  to  sol)er  tliinking,  wo 
discover  the  reason  for  co-opei-ation.  It  is 
hecanse  we  are  '*nieinl)ers  one  of  another," 
and  have  gifts  that  differ.  Tliis  he  illns- 
ti'.ates  hy  his  I'cfercnee  io  the  liody  witli  its 
ninny  momliers  which  lie  cnnipares  to  t]i(> 
Ixxly  (<f  Christ.  TTeiiee  iiis  exhortation  to 
all  grades  of  workiM's  to  pnrsne  their  call 
ings  earnestly,  bnt  eo-ojH'i'ativelv.     Let  ns 


Co-ojh  /'(if  /n)i. 


ii;5 


not  oliil)  tlio  othor  fellow  I.ooaiiso  he  will 
net  i-i(le  our  hol.hy-lior.se.  oi-  in  other  words, 
"Kct  love  be  witliout  «lissiimil;itioii." 

•Sliall  I  ask  the  bravo  soldier  wlm  f.Rhts  by  my  side 
fn  the  cause  of  humauity,  ir  our  creeds  agree?" 

"Wlion    Jesiis    came."    saxs    one.    "Re 
found   the  sacred  and   the   secular  fenced 
■d'f  as  two  distinct  provinces.     This  sei)a- 
iJiling-  wall  he  threw  (h)wn  and  <'onsecratt'd 
tlic  whole  sweep  of  Inunnn  existence."    Tii.s 
f<'achins- makes  everythin-tliat  is  riuiit  niid 
necessary  to  he  (h)nc  reli-'ious.     Recooniiz- 
i",i;-  tlie  law  of  .social  unity,   Paul   follows 
iiis   Master  in  this  particular.     Hence  his 
nies.sage  is,  not  only  to  the  men  of  faith, 
■■1^    prophets,    .wnn.-elists.    humanitnrians. 
■•'iid    preacliers.   hut    to    Christian    men    in 
xTulnr  pinsnits:  !!„-  tcncliers.  th<-  .judges, 
'■""'  <•'<'  nilers.     These  lie  e.xhorts  to  he  de- 
voted, ..h.vrfnl.  ;,n.|  diligent.  Tnthi.  Kiustle 
«'»    "'*'     l.'onians    he    declares    that     "the 
l'owe,-s  that  he  are  ordained  of  (jod,"  and 

8 


11-4 


ConjJictdNil      ]'iitnilj. 


ought  not  to  1)0  rosist(>(l,  innsinncli  as  WmAy 
true  purpose  is  not  to  tcnilV  the  good,  hut 
to  sup])ress  the  evil.  In  liai-niuny  with  this 
position  he  I'xiiort.^  llic  riiilippians  to 
"thiuk  on  whalsoevci-  tilings  arc  true, 
iionest.  .iu^t.  pure,  h)V('ly.  and  of  good  re- 
l>ort;"  an  exhortation  wiiidi.  it  foHowed, 
will  make  every  true,  progressive  Christian 
a  soe". logical  stHd(>nt. 

Let  us  con-idei'  his  advice  a  little  inoro 
in  detail.  His  "Whatsoever  things  are 
true"  o])ens  to  ns  tlic  door  to  ail  that  is 
true  in  science,  jihilosophy,  and  religion, 
and  hids  us  enter  an<l  i)0ssess.  FTis  "What- 
soever things  are  honest"  sends  the  Chris- 
tian out  into  the  coinniereial  world,  as  the 
representative  of  integiity  and  upright- 
ness. "  Wli.itsoever  tliinu<  ai'c  just"  takes 
hiui  into  the  realm  of  politics  and  legisla- 
tion as  the  ad\-o<'ate  of  right  relations  he- 
tween  man  and  man.  "  W'hatsoevei' thino-s 
are  pure"  sends  him  eveiywhere  in  lh(>  in- 
terests  ol    personal,   social,   and    religious 


Co-nprrntJon. 


115 


pni'Dy.     "\Vliats()('vor  tlii]i<i:s  are  lovely" 
r,il!s  liim  to  a  study  of  the  beautiful  aud 
til!'    devcloiinicnl    oi"    his    esthetic   nature. 
'•  W  lials(K'\(>r  lliiiii>s  are  of  good  rejtort" 
ii!ts   lijiii  Oil!    of  the  pessimistic  rut,  and 
-ends  him  forth  to  siriu'  Ids  optimistic  song 
"I'  pioi4i'i'ss  and   hope  to   the  world,     llis 
■"If  tlu-'e  he  any  virtue,  and  if  there  be  any 
piaisc"  condemns  censui'c  and  complaint, 
and    invites    to    thanksgiving   and   praise. 
Surciv  this  i-.  a  ])latform  bi-oad  enough  for 
■  my  ill  inking  man.     IFe  who  measures  uj) 
to  this  standard  will  be  u])i-ight  in  life,  pro- 
tound  in  scholarship,  and  genuinely  catli- 
"'''■   i-'i    spirit.      Were   all    Christians   pos- 
sessed of  this  ideal,  it  would  secure  to  the 
\voi'ld    a    Christianity    sane,    progressive, 
I'lhust.  and  Christ  like. 
The   fact   that    we  ai'e  memliers  one  of 

•  inolher.  lays  upon  each  an  obligation  to 
<'<>nsid(.r  the  welfare  of  ail.  The  ideal  of 
'Ih'  pix't.  "When  all  men's  good  shall  be 

•  Mrli  man's  rule,"  is  being  realized  as  men 


116 


Coitjhvt  mill    V'lrffirif. 


are  brmidit  to  sec  the  nood  ol'  ohodioncp 
to  the  law  of  social  rosi)Ousil)ilily.  When 
this  law  obtains,  prosperity  couios;  where 
it  is  ignored,  or  <lisrogarded,  the  result  is 
invariably  injurious,  sometimes  disastrous. 
Deny  the  fact  and  ignore  the  law,  and  it 
may  be  l)r()ught  lionie  to  us  in  a  manner 
least  ex})ect('d.  It  is  sometimes  a  serious 
thing'  to  have  an  unfortunate  prove  his 
brotherhood  by  demonstration. 

A  case  of  this  kind  occurred  in  Engl.-  .. 
in  18i)7,  in  what  is  known  as  the  "Mai.l- 
stone  Epidemic. "  On  the  twenty-eightli  of 
Aug-ust  in  that  year,  there  came  to  :\raid- 
stono,  a  town  in  one  of  the  hop-growings 
districts,  two  hundred  hop-pickers  from 
I.ondon,  bringing  with  them  about  throe 
hundred  children.  They  took  u])  their 
<iuarters  in  the  hopi>er-houses  provided  for 
tliein.  some  of  which  were  situated  in  a 
'ticiKJow  and  constructed  with  little  regai'd 
ior  s;iiiit;ir\  re(]uiremeuts  or  common 
cleanliness.    The  drainage  of  this  meadow 


Co-OjKliltiuit. 


117 


I'assod  into  a  sli'caiti  tVom  wliioli  a  ))ai-t  of 
tlic  town  ())■  Maidstone  Avas  supplied  with 
watei-.  Ill  alxiLit  firtoen  days  al'tcr  the  ar- 
rival of  these  lioj i-pickcrs,  an  oitideinic  ol' 
iNj'hoid  fever  l)r.)ke  out  in  that  part  of  the 
tovn  supplied  hy  water  infected  ]jy  the 
draina.iie  of  the  meadow  above  referred  to. 
It  sjiread  so  ra])idly  that  within  a  month 
over  ],20()  eases  had  been  rejiurted. 

Public  sentiment  in  Maidstone  strongly 
condeiimed  both  the  water  company  and 
llic  I'rban  Council  for  permittin,i;-  the 
source  of  their  water  sujiply  to  be  ])ol- 
inted  ill  such  a  niauner.  it  was  simi)ly  a 
notable,  concrete  illusti-atiou  of  Paul's  ali- 
slract  truth  that  "None  of  us  liveth  to  him- 
self, and  none  of  us  dieth  to  himself." 

This  incident  sliows  us  how  these  hop- 
pickers  proved  their  brotheriiood  and 
•  lemonstrated  the  law  of  social  responsi- 
bility to  the  j.eople  of  Maidstone  in  a  way 
that  they  will  not  soon  forget.  A  little 
care  on  tlK>  part  of  society  for  their  com 


118 


Cuiijflct  niiil    \  lc(i:ry. 


fort,  and  a  littlo  nttontio)]  to  the  sanitary 
conditions  oi'  tbeir  teuiporary  (luarters 
would  have  been  vastly  cheaper  than  the 
ignorino:  policy  pursued.  A  littlo  thonyht- 
ful,  brothorly  co-operation  of  tl'c  hop- 
growers,  water  coinpaiiy,  aiid  ilu-  Urban 
Council  might  easily  have  prevented  this 
disaster. 

If  the  kingdom  of  Chri>t  is  to  come  to 
this  world,  the  Christ  sjiirit  must  obtain 
in  the  social,  as  well  as  iu  the  religious 
life  of  man.  The  palace  wlu'ic  this  spirit 
nmst  show  itself  is  "wlicr,'  men  are  buy- 
ing and  selling,  emi)loying  and  being  eni- 
}>loyed,  struggling,  sinning,  suffering  and 
dying.  The  field  is  the  world."  "Dr. 
TJrown,"  says  the  editor  of  the  Circle,  "pre- 
dicts that  the  dominant  note  of  the  next 
revival  will  be  that  of  social  responsibility, 
and  that  the  two  main  texts  will  be,  'We 
are  all  members  one  of  another,'  and  'One 
is  our  :\[aster,  even  Christ,  and  all  we  are 
brethren.'  " 


C(i-(>j»  raf 


Kin. 


119 


W  iial  <M»-()|.(M'ativ('  Christianity  may  be 
ami  (io  lor  society  at  lai\m'  i>  clearly  soon 
ill  llio  liislory  of  the  Xonconi'oniiist 
Cliiii-clics  of  Eniiland  for  tlic  i)ast  huu- 
ilrcd  years.  If  \v(>  no  hack  tt)  the  hogiu- 
ning  of  the  ninoteonlh  contury,  we  find 
these  Churches  eonfrontod  hy  conditions 
discourauing  l)eyond  measure.  The  field 
was  pre-cniptetl  hy  a  State  CImrch,  rich, 
strong  and  iiillnential,  hut  exceedingly  in- 
tolerant. Tier  revenues  from  the  State 
'ricasiiiy  were  large,  and  her  interference 
ill  political  matters  was  decidedly  selfish 
and  proiiouneod.  It  seemed  utterly  impos- 
sihlc  loi'  nonconformity  to  gain  a  strong 
looting  or  i)i-estige  in  England.  The  battle 
was  that  of  a  weakling  with  a  giant  who 
dotoiniinod  to  monopolize  everything  in  the 
interest  of  self.  The  relative  strength  of 
influence,  according  to  an  editorial  by  Dr. 
Xic(»l.  in  the  British  "Weekly,  was  some- 
tliing  like  SO  to  I'O  at  the  beginning  of  the 
century.    Thi.s  gradually  changed,  standing 


120 


Cniijfict  utid    ]'irt(irij. 


a  little  I'ltci-  7i)  to  :;(),  tli,.;i  (10  to  40.  and 
at  the  end  of  the  coutuiy  it  stood,  accord- 
in,^'  to  this  authority,  50  to  30.     Keceiit 
•  ■vents,    such   as    the    Education    Bill    and 
kindred  rerornis,  would  indicate  that  the 
anogant  State  Church  had  mot  her  e(|ua! 
in  Xonconformity,  as  regards  influouco  and 
prestige.    How  has  this  growth  on  the  pai't 
oi'  the  Noneonfoiinist  Churches  lieon  se- 
cured?   By  co-operatiou.    Throughout  the 
century  they  stood  together,  shoulder  to 
shoulder,  and  brought  a   united  influence 
to  bear  ui)on  every  (juestiou  and  reform 
movement  of  the  day.    They  espoused  the 
cause  of  civic  righteousness  in  the  interest 
of  the  people.     They  were  the  friends  of 
fr.o  ]iul)lic  schools,  political  purity,  and  of 
a  lar<;(M'  liberty.     Their  motto  might  well 
have  been  "The  greatest  good  of  the  great- 
est number."     This  was  done,  not  in  the 
interest  of  n  selfish  ecclesiasticism,  but  of 
a  bioad  and  generous  ]»atriotism,  as  the 
tjibunes  of  the  ])eo])le.     It  was  thus  that 


Cd-iijii  ritf  niit . 


121 


llicy  socnrtMl  the  rcspecl  and  confidciirc^  of 
tlic  people,  wiiieli  is  a  ureal  iHM'ita^c  of 
ltl('s>iti,i;  to  tliciii  to-<lay.  The  history  of 
the  eeiitnry  can  not  Im-  tnithfnlly  writteu 
A\lthont  reeoi;ni/-ini;'  noneonforinity  as  an 
inlhu'ntial  factor  in  the  hoeial  progress  of 
th(    nation. 

It  seems  a  little  unfortimate  that  Dr. 
(.'amphell,  of  City  Tcnii)lG,  London,  shonld 
l)e  engaged  just  now  in  a  bitter  controversy 
ov(M'  theological  (juestious  when  so  many 
issues  concerning  a})plied  Christianit}'  are 
demanding  a  thoughtful  consideration.  It 
is  to  l)e  hoped  that  this  ap])arent!y  un- 
necessary strife  will  not  .sow  the  seeds  of 
dissension  among  their  ranks  and  weaken 
the  influence  of  nonconformity  in  England, 
\\  hicli  would  be  little  short  of  a  calamity  at 
llie  present  time. 

There  are  not  wanting  in  the  aistoiy  of 
the  Christian  Church  of  Ai  '^rica  illustra- 
tions of  the  beneficent  resnlis  of  co-o]ier;i- 
ti\'e  endeavor.     Giant   wrongs  liave  been 


1J2 


iJ(iujh<t  iitiil    \  ictury. 


met  nnd  .ni'ftlircnvn  l.y  the  iiiiitc(l  olTorts 
ol'  the  Iriciids  ol'  ii^i,diteuii8iios.s.  Wo  sec 
this  ill  tlic  altolitidii  ol'  slavcrv.  first  in 
Canada  and  later  in  tho  Unitod  States;  in 
the  l.anishincnt  of  the  Louisiana  Stale  l.ot- 
ti'i-y.  and  in  the  overthrow  oi'  the  army 
cantet  I!.  These  mighty  evils  all  suceunii.ed 
to  the  iinitetl  lorces  of  ri.diteonsness  war- 
I'ini,^  in  the  mtejest  of  the  people's  highest 
good. 

As  these  have  gone  so  must  also  go  the 
HiKjuity  of  child  labor,  impure  literature, 
\i<-ions  uarcoties.  ])olitieal  eorruptitm.  the 
traOie  in  strong  driuk,  and  every  form  of 
tyranny.  Tliis  will  come  to  ]iass  when  man 
realizes  that  he  is  his  ])rother's  keej.er  and 
meets  checi'fnlly  and  courageously  all  the 
<h-n]ands  of  social  and  religious  respousi- 
hilitv. 


"How  many  lifted  hands  still  plead 
Along  litus  way; 
Tlu'  old  sad  siory  of  liiinu-n  need 
ileads  ou  lor  aye. 


(  O/ijii  )Ult  Inn  . 


1 1?:? 


nut  lit  us  I'ollow  the  Savior's  plan — 
lAivo  unslinted   lor  ovcry    man. 
Content,  if  ut  most  tin-  world  should  say, 
'He  helped  his  brother  along  the  way.'  " 

Wliiir  ,it  woik  oil  this  cliaptci',  my  at- 
Iciithui  was  calicd  to  tlic  rullowiii,:;  news 
item  wliifli  .iiipi-aivd  in  thf  colnjims  of  the 
London  Advniisor  of  April  11,  1!H)7: 

"Tlic  gicatcst  evaugelit-al  moviMneiit  that 
lias  evoi'  hc'oii  ])i'o.jc'(,'te(l  was  the  .snhject  of 
discussion  at  tlu-  International  Laymen 's 
("onfci-oncc.  held  at  tho  Temple  Uuildiug, 
Toronto,  on  Tuesday  afternoon. 

■'To  Clii-istianize  the  whole  world,  civi- 
u/.e.  and  savauc  and  that  in  tweuty-five 
years  time,  is  a  lari^e  order,  aud  yet  that  is 
what  the  meetiug  discussed,  and  with  coufi- 
fleiice. 

•"J'he  Conference  and  the  ])anquet  follow- 
iim  weie  marked  with  great  enthusiasm, 
and  alter  all  was  over  many  of  the  leaders 
I 'resent  said  that  a  great  step  bad  beeu 
gained  in  Canada. 


124 


t'unjiid  ,iinl    V ,.(nrii. 


"Til..    ol)ject    is    t.)    -vt    all    Protostanl 
<l<'"<)iiiiniitinns  t.,  .•,,-..,„. rate  in  .,ri,'  Chris- 
tian iiiov-'inciit.     Iliisin. -ss  men  will  finaiKv 
it'  ittid  if  the  cnthusiaMa  spmuls,  as  il  is 
fxpectc.l  f(,  all  MMT  AiiK'ii.-a,  tlu-  work  can 
iH'-iii  at  once.     Already  tiierc  are  tliirty- 
tlnvc  laymeu  from  the  Cijite.i  States  l„„i<- 
in^^  over  tbu  mission  field,  and  others  will 
'■"How.    Cousiderini?  tliat  the  movement  he- 
i^an    only    last    Xovemher,    this    is    -real 
I'roy-rcss. 

"The  laymen  dosi,-,.  fo  assist  the  jiresfMii 
("Imreh  missions,  rathei'  than  or-ranize  ncnv 
missionary  societies  to  t;;':  np  ,vo<k  inde- 
pendently." 

A  day  or  two  later  the  same  paper  con- 
tained this  information: 

"Lender  the  auspices  of  the  National 
Civic  Federation  more  than  three  hundred 
men.  representing  all  grades  of  emi)loyers, 
employees,  capitalists,  professional  men, 
and  theorists,  asseml.led  at  th.>  home  of 
Andrew  Carnegie  recently,  for  what  Mr. 


Co  opernt'h.n.  Vl') 

r.iniciiir"     tcniicfl     r.n     •industrial     peace 


(■\  cniiii'. 


"  I  Miriiit,^   the  cxcniii.c:  Xicliolas   ^riirrny 
r.'itlcr.  i<r('si(l('iit  of  Coluiiiltia   rnivcr.-itv, 


(■;!ii>('( 


1   soiiH't  liitiLC   of   a    >\w    I 


tv    ( 


led 


iriiiir 


that  the  Xatioiial  ('i\ic  l-'cdci-atioii  should 
r;iil  ;i  World's  |ic;ic('  cont'crciU'C'  in  lliis 
country  in  the  near  future  to  hasten  a 
iicltci-  understandini,^  throughout  the  eivi- 
li/cd    wftrld    hctwt'cn    employers    and    eni- 


I'loyee.^. 

"His  suggestion  was  enthusiastieally  re- 
eei\cd.  and  many  jxu'sons  expressed  tlie 
opinion  that  under  Mr.  (*arnegie's  roof  had 
liten  made  the  hecinning  "''  one  of  the 
greatest  movements  for  the  lu'tterment  of 
iiuhistrial  conditions  in  the  liistory  of  eivil- 
i/alion." 

h'ight  thinking  men  evers^iere  are  in 
s\  nipatliy  with  all  true  social  reform.  They 
favor  tlie  l)roadest  charity,  and  the  largest 
'ilicrly  consistent  with  the  rights  of  others 
and    tlie    powers    of   human    government. 


*<¥%. 


12r, 


Conjlk't  nil' I   Vi'iory. 


Tlity  would  have  all  ikhmI.'.I  roioruiation 
eomo,  not  l)y  llic  rliiK.  Iml  l.y  tlif  i.allol; 
not  l>y  rlamor  and  riot,  hut  !>>  a  iH'accl'ul 
political  ovoiutidM. 


"L!lt■^^ill,^  the  cDitcr  ainl  im'  cnnvn, 

Swi'ciuniiii;  wurn  hihor's  bitt?r  fup  ; 
Aii'l  iiluckiii-;  iK.t  ilu'  hi^'lu'st  liDun, 
LiftiiiLc  tile  lowliest  up," 

W  o  niv  cortainly  In  iny-  in  an  aii'o  of  i,nT  t 
movenicnts       The    Salvation    Ann\-.    llio 
Student    X'olnntccr    Aiovcnicnt,    tlif    Lav 
men's    Evanii'elical    Association,    and    the 
Xalional  C'ivlc  Federation  Movenvnt  show 
us  bow  surely  the  leaven  of  ri-hteousness 
has  taken  hohl  upon  humanity.     The  spirit 
in  which  these  yfcat   cntci  prises  are  con- 
duete(l  i>  that  of  Chi'i^iian  i    ,ei'ation  with 
a    warm  hand  e.xtended   for  eo-opei'ation. 
We  have  reason  to  expect  nnich  fi'oni  them. 
Tliey  are  not  here  to  nionupolizc.   hnt    to 
assist   in  the  world's   ti'ausformation.      It 
is  gratil'yiug  to  see  the  i)!ace  thev  assi-ii 


C(>-oj)e)'(ition. 


127 


In  tilt'  pi-iufiplc  of  co-oppration.  If  they 
succeed  in  canyiug  out  their  pro.ii-ram  as 
outlined,  this  century  may  see  accoui- 
plishe(]  what  Tennyson  saw  in  vision— 


"When  the  war  drum  Uirohs  uo  longer, 
And   the  iKUtlo  flags  arc  furled, 
lu  I  he  i)arliani(iit  of  man 
The  federutiou  of  the  world." 


CHAPTER  VI. 
CHRISTIAN  CONDUCT. 


'Abhor  that  whirh  is  pvil;  rleavp  to  that  which 
is  good.  Be  kindly  affeotioned  onp  to  another  with 
brotht-rly  lov^;  in  honor  preierrinR  one  another;  not 
slothful  in  hiisiness;  fervent  in  spirit;  serving  the 
LorrJ  ;  rejoicing  in  tinpo  ;  paliiMt  iti  tribulation;  con- 
tiniiinK  instant  in  iiiavfr;  disf rilniting;  to  ihe  neces- 
sity  of  saints;  siv(^n  to  !iospit:ility.  IVess  them  which 
persecute  you:  bi.'ss,  :nid  ciiiso  noL  Rejoice  with 
them  that  do  rejuico.  and  w^cp  with  tliciti  that  weep. 
Be  of  ttie  same  mind  om-  toward  anothir.  Mind  not 
high  tbin£;s;  tnit  conii<' -.cend  to  men  of  low  estate. 
Be  not  wi.^'-  in  vour  own  ronceiis.  Reconippnse  to 
no  man  evil  for  (  vil.  Provide  things  lion^st  in  the 
sight  of  all  nx'ii.  If  ii  bi'  possible,  ms  miir  h  as  lieth 
in  yon.  live  peaceablv  with  all  men.  Dearly  beloved, 
aven.se  i  nt  yonrselvps.  but  rather  give  plare  unto 
wrath:  for  it  is  written,  \'c'n,E;eance  is  mine;  I  vvill 
repay,  Paith  the  Lord.  Therefore,  if  thine  enemy 
hunger,  feed  him:  if  he  thirst,  give  him  drink:  for 
in  so  (icing  thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  on  his  head." 


CHRLSTIAX  CT)XDUCT. 

Rp  not  nrproome  of  pvil,  but  ovpi-coijip  evil  with 
good.— Rom.  xii,  21. 

The  mnainder  of  this  twelfth  chapter  of 
Romans,  fi-om  the  ninth  verso,  constitutes 
a  treatise  on  Christian  conduct  than  which 
1  know  of  nothing-  tinor  in  literature.  Paul 
reaches  his  accustomed  cHmn.v  in  the  last 
verse  of  the  chapter,  when  he  virtually  say^ 
to  us,  "Be  not  overcome  of  evil,"  hut  hy 
the  power  of  consecration,  the  efficiency 
o!  culture,  the  momentum  of  co-operation, 
and  the  influence  of  Christian  conduct, 
"overcome  evil  with  good." 

Christian  conduct  as  a  factor  in  the 
transfonnation  of  the  world  sends  us  at 
oiico  to  the  statements  of  our  Lord:  "Ye 
-HP  the  salt  of  the  earth,"—'  The  light  of 
the  world." 

131 


1^2 


Conflict  cmd  Victory. 


It  is  largely  through  our  spirit  as  mani- 
fested in  our  conduct,  as  an  agency  for 
Him,  that  our  Lord  proposes  to  enlighten 
and  purify  the  world  until  the  kingdom  of 
God  is  established  amongst  men  with  sav- 
ing }iower.  This  places  a  high  value  upon 
the  individual  and  necessitates  or  implies 
two  things. 

In  the  first  place,  it  implies  the  reception 
of  Christ  into  the  heart  and  life  of  thp  in- 
dividual ;  for  so  long  as  Christ  remains  out- 
side of  us,  though  we  may  respect  and  ad- 
mire Him,  still  we  can  neither  know,  nor 
love,  nor  serve  Him  as  we  ought.  "I  will 
come  in  and  sup  ^\ith  you."  "Without  Me 
ye  otai  do  nothing." 

The  motive  power  of  the  Christian  life 
is  ** Christ  in  you  the  hope  of  glory." 
When  this  incarnation  takes  place  the  be- 
liever can  say  with  Paul,  "I  can  do  all 
things  through  Christ  whit'h  strengtheneth 


me. 


•)•> 


To  make  us  susceptible  of  the  best  in- 


Christian   Conduct. 


133 


fluences  and  rpsponsive  to  the  call  of  duty, 
the  heart  must  be  oliauged  by  the  convert- 
ing grace  of  God,  for  only  then  can  the 
soul  see  things  in  theii-  true  light.  "Since 
I  have  known  God  in  a  saving  manner," 
said  Henry  Martyn,  ''painting,  poetry,  and 
music  have  had  charais  unknown  to  me  be- 
fore.   I  have  received  what  T  suppose  is  a 
taste  for  them;  for  religion  has  refined  my 
mind  and  made  it  susceptible  of  impres- 
vloiis  from  the  sublime  and  beautiful." 

Thus  do  we   see   that,   in   a  subjective 
s(  use,  Christ  in  us  lays  a  basis  for  all  future 
good.    It  is  what  Chalmers  calls  "The  im- 
pulsive power  of  a  new  affection."     But 
tliere  is  also  implied  the  manifestation  of 
<'lirist.     The  })ower  of  t]>p  new  life  which 
Christ  brings  into  our  hearts  is  not  to  rt^- 
liiain  doi.nant.     Tt  is  to  be  active  in  our 
life   and   conduct.     Hence   the   command, 
'•AVork  out  your  salvation."    When  Christ 
comes  into  our  lives  with  saving  power, 
then  the  love  of  Christ  will  constrain  us 


134 


tViflicl  and   Victory. 


to  work  out  01,1-  salvation  in  all  the  beat  tl- 
i'ul  eonsisteneii  s  ui'  Christian  life  and  con- 
duct. 

This  we  are  exi)ected  to  do  as  Christians 
in  order  that  the  world  may  see,  and  feel, 
and  know  the  power  of  His  transforming 
grace;    for    until    Christian    ideas    clothe 
themselves  in  a  body  of  conduct  they  are 
ghostly,  unsubstantial,  and  comparatively 
uninfluential  things.    "Let  this  mind  be  in 
you,    which   was   also    in    Christ   .Jesus." 
"Ambassadors  are  useful,"  says  Bismarck 
"only  when  filled  with  the  spirit  of  those 
who  send  them,  and  as  crystal  reveals  the 
color  of  the  li(,uid  that  is  in  it,  so  thev 
should  represent  clearly  the  mind  of  their 
sovereign  masters." 

As  Christians  we  are  the  sent  ambas- 
sadors of  Christ,  and  the  only  evidence  we 
can  give  to  the  world  that  we  have  a  living 
faith  and  the  mind  of  Ch.-ist  in  us  is  the 
manifestatio.i  of  a  true,  pure,  loving  life. 
The  spirit  of  the  world  and  the  spirit  of 


Christian    C 'o/iUucL 


135 


Christ  are  autagoiiistic  The  uue  is  selfish, 
tlif  other  hcuelict'ut :  the  one  says  get, 
thr  other  give.  'I'hc  inaii  who  lias  tlie 
spirit  or  JiuLid  ut'  Ihc  world  in  him  says, 
"This  is  mint'  to  sijctid  u|m»ii  mysoll'."' 
The  mau  who  has  tlm  mind  of  Christ  in 
him  says,  "This  I  hold  in  trust  for  (!od  to 
use  for  the  ^'ood  of  others."  'I'he  mind  of 
the  world  contends  foi-  absolute  uou-ac- 
eountable  ownership;  the  mind  o(  Christ 
allows  only  stewardsiiip.  The  one  is  ego- 
istie,  th«-  otlier  altruistic. 

Now  it  is  easy  to  see  that  civilizatiou 
under  the  molding-  power  and  guiding  hand 
of  Christian  love,  as  manifested  in  the  cou- 
<luet  of  Christian  ])eople,  would  renovate 
the  has*  of  society  and  rear  a  structure 
iu  the  image  of  the  heavenly.  If  Christian 
sentiment  would  only  put  on  the  conduct 
that  logically  follows  from  its  profession, 
the  vices  that  now  weaken  and  degrade  our 
civilization  would  rapidly  disai)pear.  In 
t^peaking  of  our  country's  prospects,  Dr. 


136 


Cuiijiitt  and   Victory. 


Storrs  said,  "Our  future  history  is  as  se- 
cure as  that  of  tlie  past  if  only  that  moral 
life  remains  which  was  in  the  founders  of 
these  comniDnwealths,  when  i)eril  did  uot 
frighten  or  hardsliip  discourage  them,  and 
when  their  daily  rude  experience  took  from 
the  Bible  a  consecration  and  a  gleam." 

The  best  service  the  friends  of  Chris- 
tianity can  render  to  society  is  to  exemplify 
Its  spirit  and  practice  its  principles;  for 
men  will  admire  it  and  ])e  made  better  by 
it  if  they  can  only  see  the  genuine  article. 
I  think  this  was  what  Chiist  meant  when 
be  said,  "Let  your  light  so  shine  before 
men,  that  they  may  see  your  good  works 
and  glorify  your  t^ather  which  is  in 
heaven." 

Christians  are  the  world's  Bible,  "Liv- 
ing epistles"  are  they,  "known  and  read 
of  all  men."  While  it  is  true  that  the 
Christian  is  commanded  to  come  out  and 
be  separate  from  the  world,  so  far  as  par- 
ticipating with  those  of  the  world  in  their 


C/in'sdun   Conduct. 


1  O" 

1  ■)  I 


siiil'iil  1  tract  ices  and  jileasures  is  conoerued, 
still  lie  is  not  t<.  I'.'wai'd  liiiiisclf  as  hciug 
wliolly  separated  IVom  tlieiii ;  for  there  is  a 
sense  ill  wjiicli  wo  owe  theiii  certain  duties 
••iiid  ill  wliicli  we  actually  exist  for  their 
benefit.  For  instance,  we  are  exhorted  iu 
one  place  to  be  diliyent  in  business  that 
wc  may  "walk  honestly  toward  them  that 
are  without."  We  have  no  riifht  to  treat 
tbeui  that  are  witliout  as  though  they  were 
outlaws. 

Worldly  men  know  little,  and  care  less, 
about  our  ecclesiastical  polity,  or  behavior 
in  church,  but  tliey  are  alive  to  the  faith- 
fulness or  unfaithfulness  witli   whicli   we 
discharge  our  relative  duties  as  Christians. 
Though  they  may  not  be  able  to  sympathize 
with  us  in  our  struggles  after  a  pure  life, 
nevertheless,  they  know  well  how  to  esti- 
mate the  value  of  an  honest  day's  work, 
and  they  can  and  do  appreciate  the  merit 
"f  a  prompt  payment.     For  this  reason  a 
dishonest    professor    of    religion   gives    a 


^  ^'"'{riicl  ami    \  ictury. 

shuck  to  n.rislian  ovLlcic.-s  and  does  more 

to  liin.hT  til,.  t,ro-.v>s  uf  ( 'Iwist  •>  i<iu-doiij 
than  years  d'  prolVssin-  •■an  do  to  advance 
It-     While  on  til..  <.tleT  liand,  tli,.  stron^a^st 
and    most    ineontrowrtil)!.-    evidence    that 
Christianity  v.xn  prodncc  is  to  l.c  fonnd  in 
the  11  v^  or  those  who  .|nietly.  nnostenta- 
tiou.sly,     and     faithlnlly     dischar-e     life's 
duties;  fur  it  is  l,y  such  that  Christ  is  pre- 
sented   in    a    w,rlhy.    attractive    manner 
toward  them  that  arc  without.     "They  are 
the    salt    of    the    earth,    the    li^dit    ol"    the 
world.  * 

That  ti)ere  are  prejudices  in  the  miud.^ 
of  ""'H  auainst  Christhmity  is  plain.     One 
or  the  grave  cliar-es  which  the  world  pre- 
fers against  her  to-.]ay  is  that  slu>  is  want- 
ing  in    the   matter   of  conformity   to   her 
.•reed.     Few.  if  any,  uf  her  .Miemies  have 
had  the  temerity  to  atta.'k  her  on  jier  ideal 
«ide.      But   they  do   fin.i   fault  with   us  in 
the   manner    In    whi<-h    we    work    out    our 
Christianity.     That   they   have  cause   for 


Christian  d/nduct. 


139 


<'om})laint  will  hardly  be  doubted,  inasmuch 
as  many  piolo^lug  Christians  are  not  as 
i-areful  of  tiieir  intlueiu-e  as  they  ought 
tu  be. 

Max  Mnller  ouee  said,  wlien  lecturing  in 
lilasgow,  that  "When  he  saw  all   Europe 
turned  into  a  military  camp  and  the  best 
"t'uijs  of  the  nations  devoted  to  training 
.M(\    inve!iting   new    machines    for    killing 
iiicu,  he  thought  a   renewed  religion  was 
needed."    We  do  not  need  a  new  religion. 
What  w<'  want  is,  rather,  the  proof  in  the 
Christian  life  that  the  old-time  religion  is 
^till  the  })ower  of  God.    When  this  is  mani- 
ft^sted,  there  will  be  found  few  advocates 
of   the   (juestionable   things    regarded    by 
tiianv  as  evidencing  a  laxity  of  Christian 
••onduct.     Rut  rather  Christ's  injunction. 
"Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  His 
flghteousness"  will   be  exemplified  in  in- 
creased attention  to  the  worship  of  God's 
house  and  all  otlficial  obligations ;  which  will 
do  more  to  demonstrate  the  spirit  of  this 


140 


Conjliet  and  Victory. 


twelfth  chapter  of  Romans  and  harmonize 
conduct  with  Christ  than  any  statement  of 
creed  or  interpretation  of  discipline. 

The  test  of  concrete  Cliristianity  is  two- 
fold.   First,  its  effect  npon  the  individual, 
and  second,  its  effect  upon  society.     The 
latter  is  what  determines  the  genuineness 
of  the  former.    Good  men  and  women  live 
forever.     They  project   themselves  down 
the  centuries  and  thus  inspire  after  genera- 
tions  with  something  of  their  faith   and 
fortitude.     Elizabeth  Fry  and  John  How- 
ard live  to-day  in  the  lives  of  all  prison 
reformers;   Bunyan    loads   our   boys    and 
girls  through  Beulali  land,  and  Dr.  Duncan 
still  guards  the  earnings  of  the  poor  in  our 
savings  banks.     Sudi  men   ;is  Afoses  and 
Elijah,  James  and  Paul.  I  Fuss  and  Luther, 
Newell  and  Judson  are  still  with  us  in  ever- 
increasing  power. 

That  Christian  conduct  is  a  powerful 
factor  in  civilization  is  })lain  from  the  fact 
that  it  gives  momentum  and  light  direction 


Christian  Conduct. 


141 


to  those  two  great  moral  forces,  influence 
and  example.    Greatness  of  character  is  a 
•'ommnnicablo  attribute.    The  subtle  power 
of  exani]>l(>  is  contagious.    Rome  felt  it  as 
thousands  of  martyrs  gave  up  their  lives 
for  the  Lord  Jesus.    Mediaeval  ages  felt  it 
Hs  Christian  missionaries  carried  to  our  an- 
'  f'stois.  then  savage  tribes,  the  Gospel  that 
l)e('nme  the  seed  of  commonwealths.    Ger- 
many and  I^aigland  felt  its  pow^r  in  the 
Fipformations  of  Luther  and  Wesley.    This 
continent    felt   it  as   the   early   Methodist 
itinerants  of  hero  hearts  and  martyr  faith 
went    forth   on    their   long   journeys   and 
shook  the  depths  of  forest  gloom  with  their 
liynins  of  lofty  cheer.     The  influence  of 
their  lives  reaches  even  unto  us  and  teaches 
lis  that  the  Christian  religion  is  not  a  mere 
•  ode  of  laws,  or  an  abstract  system,  but 
a    living  embodiment   of  goodness   wliicL 
comes  to  us  in  human  form  i\m\  oifers  itself 
to  our  eyes  as  well  a,-;  oiu'  cars. 
In  an  editorial  entitled,  "Follow  me," 


143 


Confict  and  Victr>, 


the  editor  of  Zion's  Herald  made  rhe  fol- 
lowing sensible  remarks:     "Saintly  lives 
have  always  won  more  followers  forChrist 
than  the  keenest  logic,  or  the  most  tender 
words  of  persuasion.    The  Christian  in  his 
humility  may  hesitate  to  say,  'Follow  me,' 
but  after  all  is  it  not  his  exauiple,  his  in- 
fluence, his  character,  his  fidelity  which  tell 
upon  the  seeker  after  truth?    Men  do  not 
readily  yield  themselves  to  argument,  to 
advice,  to  solicitation;  hut  when  they  see  a 
beautiful,  harmonious,  Christlike  life  they 
are   drawn   to   it   by   a   sort   of  spiritual 
affinity.     Such  a  life  i«  a  center  of  attrac- 
tion to  all  restless,  wandering  souls  which 
long  for  the  peace  and  rest  of  fixed  faith 
•Hid  purpose." 

These  examples  of  goodness  are  of  in- 
hn.tc  value  to  civilization,  inasmuch  as 
they  make  virtue  visible  and  desirable,  and 
not  only  rebuke  our  imperfections,  but  urge 
us  to  the  imitation  of  goodness.  The  moral 
law  and  all  the  abstract  principles  of  right 


Christia a   Con  dnct. 


143 


nrp  interpreted,  fortified,  and  recom- 
mended by  the  conduct  of  those  who  are 
!  onest.  disinterested,  and  genuinely  Chris- 
nan.    Our  reverence  for  virtue  is  deepened 

■  ind  strengthened   by  all   tliat  we   witness 

■  tiid  hpfir  of  the  beneficence,  scif-sacrifice. 
purity,  and  devotion  of  the  true  Christian 
men  and  women  of  society.     Men   respect 
realities  and  will  not  r|,iarrol  with  them. 
Men  can  not  look  upon  good  chai-acters  and 
bad  characters,  they  c;in   not  observe  the 
beauty  of  virtue  and   the   nobility  of  in- 
te<::rity.  and  contrast  them  with  the  repul- 
siveness  of  vice  and   the  downward  ten- 
<lfncy    of   unrestrained    pleasure    without 
t'oollni.'    the    difference    of    the    principles 
ulii.'b  they  reveal.     Thus,  as  one  puts  it, 
"Kvcvy    g-ood    act    ]ireaches;    every    true, 
i""*>  lifo  is  a  rampart   against  evil,  and 
■<"   virtue  which  is  visible  in  human  con- 
'f'lct  is  an  indirect  l)ut  powerful  emphasis 
to  all  the  arguments  that  would  win  men 
to  goodness  and  warn  them  from  sin." 


14-t 


Conjiict  and   Victory. 


"When  one  who  holds  communion  with  the  skies 
Has  filled  his  urn  where  those  pure  waters  rise, 
And  once  more  mingles  with  us  meaner  things, 
'T  is  e'en  as  if  an  angel  shook  his  wings; 
Immortal  fragrance  fills  the  circuit  wide 
That  tells  us  whence  his  treasures  are  supplied." 


■:*ii! 


^M 


Canon  Farrar  said:  "I  would  rather 
that  any  man  should  be  a  Romanist  or  a 
Dissenter  or  a  Buddhist  or  a  Mohammedan, 
so  that  he  were  a  holy  and  godly  man,  than 
ten  times  over  a  member  of  the  most  cath- 
olic Church  that  ever  existed  and  be  a  sly 
intriguer,  or  a  rancorous  slanderer,  or  an 
unclean  liver,  or  a  i)rofessed  liar  or  in  any 
one  form  of  conscious  wickedness  a  hypo- 
crite or  a  bad  man.  Just  as  a  living  dog 
is  better  than  a  dead  lion,  so  a  goo(i  heretic 
or  righteous  schismatic  may  be  immeasur- 
ably dearer  to  God  and  nearer  to  heaven 
than  a  bad  Christian  whose  conduct  gives 
the  lie  to  his  creed." 

What  ihe  world  needs  to-day  is  not  so 
much  consecrated  capital  as  life  preachers 


Christian  Conduct. 


145 


and  preaching.     It  is  tho  most  intelligible; 
for  even  children  can  understand  it.     It  is 
tlie  most  incontrovertihle;  for  while   men 
•  an  and  do  I)attle  with  i)roposltions,  they 
'Hn  not  ai-giio  against  a  trnt  .  jMiro,  good 
Jit'e.     It   is   the  most  constant;    for  while 
oral  ]ireaching  is  at   best  hut  orcasional, 
•ife-preaching  is  perennial.    The  t(>mple  of 
Zion  was  magnificently  grand,  hut  not  of 
such  enduring  value  to  the  race  as  one  such 
life    as    Ezra,    Isaiali,    or    Paul.      In    like 
manner,  the  glory  of  the  Christian  religion 
IS  not  in  the  magnificence  of  her  temples  or 
the   excellency   of   her   ritual,    hut    in    her 
deeds  of  usefulness,  in  lier  sacrifices   for 
humanity,  in  the  beauty  of  life  and  char- 
acter displayed  in  her  followers.     In  these 
things  she  is  most  influential,  for  no  one 
'•an  wholly  withstand  the  moral  power  of 
a  truly  good  life,  for  llip  simple  reason  that 
:t  is  God-inspired.    The  man  who  is  identi- 
hf^d  wilh  the  cross  of  Christ  is  identified 

"ilh  moral  omnipotence,  or  in  other  words 
10 


146 


Confict  and  Victory. 


\\^    ■■ 


with    thP    ,,o.ver   of   God    unto    salvation. 
Henpp  -.vluTPvor  you  see  a  man  resentin- 
a  hrihe  a.-  nn  insult  to  his  manhood;  wher"- 
f^ver  you  see  a  merchant  refusing  to  con- 
form to  popular  deceptions  for  gain;  wher- 
r'vei'  yn„  s..p  a  merchant  refusing  to  ron- 
the  wicked   for  reward,  or  a  follower  of 
Jesus  glorying  in   the  cross  of  Christ  in 
•^Pite  of  taunt  or  ridicule  or  persecution 
there  you   hehold   tlie  manifestation  of  a 
higher  power  than  that   which  moves  the 
world  -the  power  to  do  right  and  fear  rxod. 
This  world  has  been  lifted  into  a  higher 
plane  of  thought  and  life  by  Christian  men 
who  worked   when   they  were  wearv,  who 
laid  aside,  for  the  time  being,  their  own 
plans  and  purposes  that  the  cause  of  God 
might  be  given  right  of  way;  men  who  re- 
garded not  their  lives  dear  unto  them  when 
duty  called  for  service  or  for  sacrifice;  men 
who  felt  that  the  world  was  in  moral  dark- 
ness and  that  its  misery  and  sin  cried  aloud 
for  the  Christian  mission  of  consolation 


Christian  Conduct.  I47 

and  redemption  which  they  were  able  to 
give.  Such  men  have  taught  the  world  that 
"Simple  duty  has  no  place  for  fear,"  and 
by  the  very  force  of  their  example  have 
■•lured"  us  -to  brighter  worlds  and  led 
the  wav. " 


"May  every  soul  that  touches  ours. 
Be  it  the  slightest  contact,  get  therefrom  .ome  good 
S>me  liftie  grace;   one  kindly  thought; 
Onr  aspiration  yet  unfelt;  one  bit  of  courage 
For  the  darkening  sky;  one  gleam  of  faith 
To  brave  the  thickening  ills  of  life; 
One  glimpse  of  brighter  skies  beyond  the  gathering 
mists; 

To  make  this  life  worth  while,  and  heaven  a  surer 
heritage." 


sra-ss^-) 


PART  II. 


SERMONS. 


>^  - 


V" 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  FATIIEKIIOOI)  (JF  GOD    \XD 
THE  HHOTHFAiUuUD  OF  MAX. 


m 


•Have  we  uot  all  one  Father?     Hath  uut  out.  God 
created  ua?" 

"For  one  is  your  Master,  even  Christ;  aud  ^u  ye 
ale  bretiueu." 

"I  ascend  luUo  uiy  Fatn.r  and  your  Father:  and 
to  my  God,  and  your  God." 

'•One  God  aud  Father  of  aii.  who  is  above  all.  and 
through  -^ll.  and  in  you    ill  " 

■•Be  in  subjection  uniu  the  Father  of  spirits  and 
live." 


niK   FATHERHOOD  OF  GOD  AND 
THE  BKOTHEHH(JOD  OF  MAX. 

He  giveth  to  all  lile  aud   bivath  and  all  things; 
uud  Lath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men.    Acts 

If  it  be  true  that  the  hrightest  gem  that 
•'v.T  adorued  the  fiuge,-  of  beauty  or  the 
IjiuH-  of  royalty  may  be  iniproved  by  the 
^•'tting,  then,  surely,  this  expression  of  the 
irreat  apostle  to  the  Gentiles  is  greatly  en- 
liauced  by  the  historic  setting  in  which  we 
'iii«!  it.    You  will  remember  that  just  before 
littering  these   sublime  truths,   Paul   had 
'  •'•^11  making  a  survey  of  Athens.    He  had 
<"ine    from    treading    the    courts    of    the 
Academy  where  Plato  and  Aristotle  taught, 
where   Socrates   luid   lived   aud  died,   and 
where  the  followers  of  Zeno  and  Epicurus 

168 


1 


MM'\  • 


v^ 


m 


154 


Cunjiict  and  Victory. 


^vere  still   inculcatino:  tlie  peculiar  tenets 
of  their   n-spoctive  schools,  when  he  was 
su(l(l(Mi!y  aiul  unexpectedly  called  upon  to 
expound  \\\>  oun  religious  views.    When  he 
i^ave  utterance  to  the  words  of  my  text,  he 
stood    upon    the    historic    Mars'    Hill    in 
Athens,   the  eye  of  cultured  Greece,  sur- 
rounded by  the  nuister])ieces  of  Grecian  art 
and    the    memorials    of  Grecian    wisdom. 
Around   him   were   the   manifestations   of 
wonderful    genius;    the    jn-oofs    of    what 
man's  intellect   could  a<'hieve.     It  was  a 
trying  hour,  but  his  conduct  upon  that  oc- 
casion was  characteiistic  of  the  man,  for 
he  was  modest,  wise,  and  dauntless.  As  he 
looked  around  upon  tlie  altars  of  the  gods, 
his  quick  eye  saw  in  them  the  evidence  of 
a  worshipful  spirit  in  tin'  Athenian  in  re- 
gard to  the  unseen,  and  gathering  from 
their  own  literature  Man's  true  relation  to 
God, he  proceeded  with  wonderful  tact,  sim- 
plicity, and  force  to  enunciate  to  them  those 
truths   of   natural    religion   which   reason 


Tlie  Fatherliood  of  God. 


luj 


could  receive  and  adopt.  And  then  rising 
to  the  higher  truths  of  revelation,  he 
preached  unto  them  Jesus  and  the  resurrec- 
tion. My  text,  which  is  an  exceri)t  from  liis 
wonderful  address,  contains  two  precious 
doctrines  which  we  will  now  consider. 

In  the  first  place  you  will  notice  that  we 
have  very  clearly  presented  to  us  the 
Fatherhood  of  God  in  the  words,  "He 
giveth  to  all  life  and  breath  and  all  things." 
It  ib  well  for  us  to  remember,  at  the  outset, 
+hat  God  is  not  our  Father  sin  >ly  because 
lie  created  us;  for  my  text  assures  us  that 
He  created  the  flower  and  the  insect,  the 
beast  and  the  bird  as  well,  but  we  never 
think  of  Him  as  their  Father  in  the  sense 
in  which  He  is  ours.  These  are  the  works 
of  His  hand^);  we  are  His  children.  It  is 
in  a  spiritual  sense  that  God  is  our  Father. 
The  very  term  implies  this;  for  to  be  a 
father  is  to  communicate  one's  own  nature 
and  give  life  to  kindred  beings.  The  Scrip- 
tures teach  us  that  God  is  a  sy    it  and  that 


I    i^ 


i 

I 


156 


Conflict  and    \  ictary. 


man  was  begotten  in  His  image,  which  must 
have  been  spiritual.  The  idea  of  Father- 
hood gives  to  Him  a  paiernjil  relation  to 
man  and  l)rings  in  the  elements  of  feeling 
and  personal  intei-est,  for  love  is  the  su- 
preme glory  of  fatherli3od.  Indeed,  it  is 
the  verdict  of  histoi-y  that  in  every  age  and 
nation  of  which  we  have  any  record  the 
dearest  thoughts,  the  londerest  associa- 
tions, and  the  most  revci-ent  feelings  have 
ever  clustered  around  the  woi'd  father. 
Hence  it  is  as  our  Father  tiiat  God  comes 
nearest  to  men.  The  Savior  recognized 
this  fact;  for  in  one  of  His  parables  He 
shows  us  a  weeping  ])rodigal  ])ressing  hi;. 
face  into  liis  father's  bosom,  heart  beating 
to  heart,  the  one  in  all  the  agony  of  ])eni- 
tence,  the  other  in  all  the  anguish  of  i)ityiug 
love.  And  who  shall  say  that  all  law  was 
not  vindicated  when  that  father  kissed 
away  his  son's  tears  and  called  for  nmsic, 
the  best  robe,  and  the  fatted  calf? 

How  it  dignifies  our  conception  of  human 


The  Fatherhood  of  God. 


157 


nature  to  think  that  the  God  of  boundless 
worlds  and  infinite  systems  is  our  Father! 
Indeed,  our  human  fatherhood  is  but  a  dim 
refiection  of  the  Divine ;  for  our  best,  ten- 
derest,  and  holiest  affections  are  but  shad- 
ows of  corresponding:  feelings  in  the  heart 
of  our  Heavenly  Father,  who  thinks  about 
us,  provides  for  us,  and  loves  us.  Hence  we 
are  not  surprised  to  learn  that  FTe  has  pity 
for  the  erring,  pardon  for  the  guilty,  and 
an  immortal  life  for  all  who  trust  and  obey 
him.  Tnasmucli  as  He  has  expended 
thought,  affection,  and  training  upon  us, 
He  has,  therefore,  a  right  to  expect  from  us 
filial  obedience  to  His  will,  and  when  we  fail 
to  render  it  to  Him  His  heart  is  grieved; 
for  having  created  us  He  is  interested  in 
lis.  pA'ery  human  soul  that  fails  to  reach 
heaven  is  the  loss  of  a  dear  child  to  God. 
Knowing,  as  He  does,  the  value  of  a  human 
soul,  it  is  not  belittling  to  the  Almighty 
fo  say  that  He  grieves  over  such  losses.  To 
have  any  conception  of  what  God's  grief 


158 


Conflict  and  Victory. 


over  those  who  rebel  against  Him  is,  it 
would  be  necessary  for  us  to  purify,  mag- 
nify, and  multiply  to  an  indefinite  extent  the 
grief  which  we  feel  when  our  children  go 
astray,  for  God  is  Father  to  the  sinner  as 
well  as  to  the  saint.    I  am  aware  that  there 
are  thosp  who  claim  that  we  are  not  God's 
children    until   we   are   adopted   into   His 
family,  and  that  none,  therefore,  but  the 
converted  can  call  Hhn  Father.  But  I  main- 
tain  that   every  man  is  born  into   God'-; 
family  and  remains  in  his  Father's  house 
until,  like  th9  prodigal,  he  wills  to  leave  it; 
for  surely  from  birth  to  decision  everj^  man 
is  safe.    Of  course,  it  is  well  for  us  to  re- 
member, in  this  connection,  that  the  m^re 
abstract  relationship,  apart  from  the  ful- 
fillment of  the  duties  involved  in  it,  is  of 
very  little  value  to  us.    For  instance,  it  is 
a  very  little  thing  for  a  man  to  stand  in 
the  i  bstract  relation  of  a  citizen  in  this 
nation;  but  it  is  a  very  great  thing  for  a 


The  Fatherhood  of  Ood. 


159 


man  to  fulfill  worthily  all  the  duties  of  citi- 
zen^iliip  in  a  oountry  jTcoverned  as  we  are. 
Tt  is  a  very  little  thing  for  a  man  to  stand 
in  the  mere  ahstraet  relation  of  a  husband 
or  a  fatlier;  but  it  is  certainly  a  very  great 
thing  for  a  man  to  nobly  meet  the  responsi- 
bilities that  pertain  to  such  relationships. 
In  like  manner,  the  fact  that  God  is  the 
Fathri-  of  yonr  sy^irit  wi'l  neither  save  nor 
bless  you  until  that  relationship  is  mani- 
fested and  proved  by  a  devoted,  faithful, 
obedient  life;  for  it  is  only  to  such  that 
God  extends  an  assuring,  comforting, 
gracious  sense  of  his  Divine  Fatherhood. 
It  is  only  such  who  can  with  grateful,  trust- 
ful hearts  look  up  and  exclaim : 


'Father,   I   know   that   all    my   life   is   portioned   out 

to  me, 
And  the  changes  that  will  surely  come  I  do  not  fear 

to  see: 
But  I  ask  Thee  for  a  prr-  'tit  mind,  intent  on  pleasing 

Thee." 


160 


Conflict  and  Victory. 


V  < 


If  God  is  the  Father  of  all  human  spirits, 
then  there  is  such  a  thing  as  a  human 
brotherhood.  Once  establish  the  doctrine 
of  God's  Fatherhood,  and  the  foundation  is 
laid  for  the  further  doctrine  of  man's 
brotherhood.  This  was  the  method  Paul 
adopted  in  his  address  to  the  Athenians 
upon  the  Hill  of  .Mars.  The  Greeks  to 
whom  he  spoke  believed  that  the  gods  were 
their  ultimate  ancestors,  and  hence  thev 
divided  the  human  family  into  two  classes 
— Greeks  and  Barbarians.  This  view  Paul 
sought  to  correct  by  teaching  them  that 
God  is  our  common  Father,  and  that  there- 
fore we  are  all  brothers,  children  of  one 
common  parent.  His  claim  was  that  God 
*'hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men 
to  dwell  on  al'  the  face  of  the  earth."  He 
further  mdeav'ored  to  show  them  that  God 
was  interested  in  all  men,  and  that  for  that 
reason  he  commended  to  each  an  interest 
in  all.  The  great  aim  of  the  Gospel  is  to 
hasten  the  time 


The  Fatherhood  of  God.  161 

"  When  all  men's  good  shall  be  each  man's  rule 
And  universal  peace. 

Lie  like  a  shaft  of  light  across  the  land. 
And  like  a  lane  of  beams  athwart  the  sea. 
Through  all  the  cycle  of  the  golden  y^ar." 

"He  only  is  u  true  Christian  who  has  a 
profound  and  practical  consciousness  of 
the  brotherhood  of  man,  ■whose  faith  in 
Christ  is  so  strong  that  he  can  see  in  every 
drunken  outtast  a  possible  saint,  in  every 
j^ambling  den  a  place  of  prayer,  and  in 
every  abandoned  prostitute  a  Mary  Mag- 
dalene. The  spirit  of  Christianity  is  sym- 
[lathetic  and  helpful  It  aims  to  destroy 
that  spirit  of  selfishness  which  would  say, 
Wbnt  tr,  me  is  a  Turk,  a  Chinaman,  or  a 
Piitagonian?"  Christianity  would  have 
ever}"  one  say  with  Lowell: 

"Where'er  a  single  slave  doth  pine, 
Where'er  one  man  may  help  another; 
Thank   (ind   for   such   a   birthright,   brother. 
That  spot  of  land  Is  thim^  and  mine; 
There  Is  the  true  man's  birthplace  grand. 
For  his  is  a  world  wide  fatherland." 
II 


162 


Confict  and  Victory. 


With  Di\  \Vm.  E.  Channing  I  believe  that 
"war  will  ne^'er  yield  but  to  the  principles 
of  universal  justice  and   love,  and   these 
have  no  sure  root  but  in  the  religion  of 
Jesus    Christ."     It   was   Jesus   and    His 
fishermen  apostles  who  first  conceived  the 
thought  and  burned  with  the  enterprise  of 
a  world-wide  philanthropy.     The  spirit  of 
universal    benevolence    and    brotherhood 
which  He  introduced  is  fittingly  illustrated 
in  the  following  event :      A  Hindoo  and  a 
New  Zealander  once  met  upon  the  deck  of 
a  mission  ship.     They  both  had  been  con- 
verted from  heathenism,  and  were  there- 
fore brothers  in  Christ.    But  they  could  not 
speak    understandingly    to    one    another. 
They  pointed  to  their  Bibles,  shook  hands, 
and  smiled  upon  each  other,  and  that  was 
all  that  it  seemed,  in  the  very  nature  of 
things,  that  they  could  do.    At  last  a  happy 
thought  occurred  to  the  acute  mind  of  the 
Hindoo,  for  all  at  once  with  sudden  joy  he 
exclaimed,  ''Hallelujah!"     Promptly  the 


The  Fatherhood  of  God. 


163 


Xpw  Zealander  cried  out,  "Amen!"  Thus 
<io  we  see  that  these  two  words,  not  found 
in  their  own  heathen  tongues,  were  to  them 
the  heginjiing  of  one  language  and  one 
speech.  Indeed,  the  sympathy  of  man  with 
i  .in— to  weep  with  them  that  weep,  to  bind 
up  the  broken  hearted,  to  comfort  them 
thai  mourn,  to  act  "the  good  Samaritan," 
pouring  oil  and  wine  into  the  stranger's 
wounds  as  though  he  wore  a  bosom  friend, 
i^  a  philanthropy  based  upon  the  grea't  doc- 
trine of  human  brotherhood  which  human 
minds  had  never  thought  of  until  it  was 
revealed  from  heaven  by  the  Son  of  man 
who  came  down  from  heaven.  Verily, 
Christendom  is  the  best  defense  of  Chris- 
tianity; for  nothing  else  in  equal  measure 
has  ever  taught  us  how  to  live 


"For  the  cause  that  lacks  nssistance, 
For  tho  wrongs  that  need  resistance, 
For  the  future  in  the  distance 
And  the  good  that  we  may  do." 


vT^"''^v^%  "  T'-^^^  •  :^  *  "'':-v--';?y='%*S'^-- 


164 


Conflict  and  Victory. 


1 


»i 


Take   the   Christian   conception   of   our 
neig-hhor  as  jjiven  to  us  by  the  Lord  Him- 
self. an<l  we  shall  find  in  it  a  love  which 
oversteps  the  limit  of  race,   removes  the 
limit  of  spM('<\   and  even  transcends   the 
limit   of  character.     "Jt  teach(<s   us   that 
the  neighbor  wiiom  we  should  commiserate 
and  help  is  not  simply  the  poor  traveler 
who   has   fallen   among   thieves   and   been 
wounded  and  robbed,  but  the  erring  soul 
who   has   lost    the   true  way   and   become 
entangled  in  the  darkness  of  sin,  the  piti- 
able one   who   has   fallen   into   the    pit  of 
shame;  for  those  who  have  been  smitten 
by  that  worst  of  all  strokes  and  have  de- 
scended  into   the  darkest  of  all   shadows 
are  as  much  our  neighbors  as  any  others." 
They   are   our  brothers   and   sisters,   and 
we  can  never  be  relieved  from  the  duty 
of  doing  them  good  when  it  is  in  our  power 
to  help  them.    Our  neighbor,  as  defined  by 
the  Savior,  is  not  simply  the  man  who  is 
up  and  doing  and  who  can  assist  us  on  our 


The  Fatherhood  of  God. 


1(35 


way.  but  the  man  that  is  down  and  whom 
\\f  lan  assist  to  rise.  Tn  short,  our  neighbor, 
ill  a  truj'  Christian  sense,  is  the  irian  who  is 
ill  tlie  most  need  of  our  syin|)athy  and  help, 
wliether  his  house  or  farm  adjoins  ours, 
or  whether  he  lives  miles  and  miles  away, 
it  is  by  helping  him,  by  going  to  him  and 
making  ourselves  neighbors  to  him,  that 
we  fulfill  the  law  of  Christ,  keep  His  com- 
uiaudments,  and  live  His  life.  Upon  this 
Biblical  and  Christian  basis  rest  all  the 
great  religious  enterprises  of  to-day,  all 
the  noble  reforms  of  Christendom,  all  the 
worthy  charities  of  Christian  lands  and 
everj'  benevolent  institution.  Indeed,  our 
Christian  civilization  is  undergirded  and 
strengthened  and  upheld  by  a  belief  in  the 
Fatherhood  of  God  and  the  brotherhood  of 
man.  He  has  but  very  imperfectly  studied 
human  nature  who  does  not  see  that  by 
^^uch  helpful,  timely  ministrations  of  sym- 
pathy and  love  as  those  to  which  I  have 
referred, 


16G 


Conji'ii't  and   Victory. 


"The  meanest  wrHch  that  ever  trod,  the  deepest  8unk 
in  sin  and  sorrow, 

Might  stand  eroot  iu  ...If-respect  and  share  the  teem- 
ing  world    to  iii«rrow, 

Oppressions  heart   n,i«ht   be  Imbued   with   kindling 
drops  of  loving  Ivindniss; 

And  knowledge  pour  from  shore  to  shore  light  on  the 
eyes  of  mental  blindness, 

What  might  be  done,  this  might  be  done  and  more 
than  this,  my  suffering  brother. 

More  than  the  tongue  ere  said  or  sung,  if  men  were 
wise  and  loved  each  other." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
ENCOURAGEMENT. 


M: 


"Tu  him  tliat  soweth  righteousness  shall  be  a 
sure  rcvvuril  " 

"Whosuuver  slmll  give  to  drink  unto  one  of  these 
little  ones  a  cup  ul  cold  watjr  only  in  the  name  of  a 
disciple,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  he  shall  in  no  wise 
lose  his  reward." 

"Fear  not,  little  flock  ;  fur  it  is  your  Father's  good 
pleasure  to  give  y  .u  t'lP  kingdom.' 

"Do  good  and  your  rewai-d  shall  be  groat." 


1* 

Hi 


'»- 


EXCOI'FIAOEMEXT. 

T,.'t  us  not  weary  In  w^-ll  doing,  for  In  due  season 
we  shall  reap  if  we  faint  not.— Gal.  vi.  a. 

Ix  this  laconic  chaj.ler,  Paul  ton  .les 
villi  womieii'ul  <.•]eal•nes^■  and  force  upon 
some  of  the  great  |»iiucii»les  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion.  In  a  very  felicitous  spirit  he 
exhorts  hh  'eaders  to  cultivate  mutual  tol- 
erance and  helpfulne.'^s,  to  avoid  eensori- 
nnsness,  to  be  liberal  in  maintaining  their 
leligious  teachers,  to  sow,  not  to  the  flesh, 
I'ut  to  the  spirit,  and  to  persevere  in  Chris- 
tiiiij  beneficence. 

These  admonitions  are  always  timely  and 
li''ll>fu1,  and  none  moi-e  so  than  Christian 
beneficence.  Sin  in  one  form  or  another 
repeats  before  Ood,  age  after  age,  the 
words  of  the  world's  earliest  self-seeker, 

169 


\  n  ^  . 


170 


Cunjiict  and   Victory. 


m 


''Am  I  my  brother's  keeper?"  By  unduly 
em{)hasiziiig  the  distinction  between  mine 
and  thine,  men  have  alienated  theiiuselves 
from  each  other  and  introduced  all  forms 
of  class  distinction.  lu  Paul's  day  this 
evil  was  seen  and  felt,  and  hence  he  had 
something  to  say  about  it,  for  he  believed 
that  the  Gospel  has  to  do  with  man's 
private,  social,  and  political  life. 

In   treating  this  question  of  Christian 
beneficence,  he  was  the  right  man  in  the 
li^lJt    place,    inasmuch    as    he    invariably 
practiced  what  he  preached.     The  lessons 
of  his  voice  and  pen  were  enforced  with 
tenfold  power  by  the  actions  of  his  daily 
life.     His  life  of  conscious  rectitude  en- 
abled  him   to  say  to  those  to   whom  he 
wrote,    "Those    things     which    ye    have 
learned  and  read  and  heard  and  seen  in 
me  do.  and  the  very  God  of  peace  shall  be 
with  you."    As  a  religious  teacher  he  not 
only  gave  them  a  rule  of  thought,  but  he 
exhibited  in  his  own  life  a  rule  of  conduct 


El  icon  rageinen  t. 


171 


worthy  of  their  imitatiou.    We  see  this  iu 
his  devotion  to  others,  aud  in  his  adajjta- 
tion  to  all  men  that  he  might  win  them  to 
Christ.    "Like  a  good  man  out  of  the  good 
treasure  of  K  ^  heart  Saint  Paul  brought 
forth  good   things   in   thought  and    life." 
Such  an  exhortation  comes  with  stronger 
force  from  him  than  from  any  other  New 
Testament  writer.    The  admouitior  of  the 
text  is  for  Christian  believers.     The  apos- 
tle is  careful  to  count  hin^elf  in.    "Let  as 
not  be  weary  in  w^ell-doing"  is  the  signifi- 
cant admonition.     The  dignity,  »iuty,  aud 
destiny  of  believers  is  to  be  found  in  well- 
doing, for  as   he  elsewhere  expresses  it, 
"We  are  (Jod's  workmanship,  created  iu 
Christ  .lesus  unto  good  works." 

The  advice  given  was  not  intended  for  a 
repriujand,  for  the  writer  does  not  even 
hii-'^  that  the  Galatian  Christians  are  not 
"abounding  unto  every  good  work."  He 
nieiely  suggests  by  w^ay  of  exhortation  that 
they  become  not  v/earv  iu  this  life  of  well 


1 


1 


172 


Conjiict  and    Victory. 


doing.  It  is  au  invitation  to  unite  forces 
and  follow  the  example  of  the  blessed 
Master  "who  went  about  doing  good." 
The  prosperity  of  the  (Miurch,  the  salvation 
of  men,  and  the  glory  of  (Jod  make  it  neces- 
sary for  us  to  embrace  every  opportunity 
afforded  us  to  <lo  good.  The  Christian 
religion  is  not  an  ism,  but  a  life;  not  a 
theology,  old  or  new,  but  a  living  force 
within.  It  is  an  internal  motive  power 
which  is  ever  productive  of  results.  It  does 
not  terminate  in  self.  Its  emble:n  is  not 
the  si)onge  which  absorbs,  but  the  summer 
cloud  which  gives  forth.  Christ  "gave 
Himself  for  us  that  He  might  redeem  us 
from  all  iniquity  and  ])urify  unto  Himself 
a  peculiar  peoi^le  zealous  of  good  >vorks." 
The  admonition  of  the  text  is  a  needful 
one.  In  a  world  like  the  one  in  which  we 
live,  there  are  so  many  unsettling  influences 
around  us  that  we  are  apt  to  become  weary, 
even  in  a  life  of  upi'ightuess.  The  causes 
of  weariness  in  well  doing  are  so  numerous 


Encouragement. 


173 


and  complex  in  iheir  operation  that  we 
need  to  be  very  watchful  and  very  careful. 

•To  do  good  and  communicate  forget  not," 
is  advice  that  is  always  timely  and  neces- 

ary. 

There  are  many  things  which  tend  to 
make  well  doing  wearisome  work.     There 
i-  the  friction  of  life  in  a  world  of  ungodly 
Kudencies.     A    life  of  well   doing  is   the 
furthest  removed  from  a  life  of  selfishness. 
To  persevere  in  it,  we  need  a  large  infusion 
^\^  the  spirit  in  which  Christ  regarded  man. 
The  Christian  who  would  lead  a  life  of  well 
doing  must  be  able  to  say  with  Terence,  "I 
am  a  man  and  I  have  an  interest  in  every- 
thing that  concerns  humanity."    He  must 
call  nothing  that  God  has  made  "common 
or  unclean."    He  must  be  able  to  see  be- 
neath the  vice  and  cruelty  and  moral  repul- 
siveness   of  human   society    brigl'l    jewels 
which  may  l)e  won   lor  Christ,   immortal 
ouls  which  may  be  washed  in  the  blood  of 
I  lie  Lamb. 


174 


Conflict  and  Victory. 


1 1 '    ) 


Roliffinn  does  not  })la('o  us  above  the 
oivliiiary  cures  and  difficulties  of  life.  In- 
deed, they  often  increase  and  act  upon  us 
so  as  to  depress  us  beyond  all  measure 
until,  like  Job,  our  patience  exhausted,  we 
fry  out  in  despair,  "My  soul  is  weary  of 
my  life." 

Our  failures  to  reach  our  ideals  of  the 
Divine  life  have  a  depressing  effect  upon 
lis.    Oftentimes  our  ideals  of  the  Christian 
life  are  so  beautiful  that  they  charm  our 
meditation     and     inspire     our     purpose. 
Tli(.:igh  advancing  we  fail  to  reach  them. 
They  are  far  I)eyond  us,  hid  away  iu  the 
infinite  l)osom  of  God.     In  our  seasons  of 
meditation  we  have  gazed  ui)on  the  image 
of  Christ  as  presented  to  us  in  the  Gospel 
and  pictured  upon  oui-  imagination,  and  in 
those  choice  liours  we  have  desired,  yea 
longed  to  be  conformed  to  His  image,  that 
we  might  be  able  \o  do  uiir  full  share  in 
the  transformation  of  (he  world.     Rising 
from  these  day  dreams  with  high  hopes  and 


I 
•i 


Eiico  uragetnent. 


176 


buoyant  spirits,  wp  have  p^one  forth  into 
the  world  to  engage  in  well  doing,  only  to 
find  that  the  more  intensely  we  cared  for 
the  souls  of  men,  the  more  were  we  laid 
open  to  a  feeling  of  weariness  and  depres- 
sion.   If  you  would  know  something  of  the 
discouragements  connected  with  well  doing, 
go  down  with  some  of  God's  faithful  work- 
ers into  the  sickening  scenes  of  discomfort, 
squalor,  and  vice  into  wliich  their  work  of 
heneficencc  takes  them,  and  if  you  have 
any  eyes  to  see  you  will  be  convinced  con- 
rerning  this  matter. 

In  other  work  we  can,  to  a  large  extent, 
walk  by  sight  and  feel  the  encouraging  in- 
fluence of  results.  In  it  we  have  something 
to  show  for  what  our  hands  have  been 
^oing.  Tn  a  life  of  well  doing  we  often 
have  little  to  show  in  the  line  of  results. 
Of  course,  in  feeding  the  hungry,  clothing 
the  naked,  and  imparting  knowledge  to  the 
yf>ung,  there  is  something  in  the  way  of 
results  to  be  seen.    But  in  seeking  to  in- 


176 


ConjliLt  ami  Victory. 


fluence  men's  hearts  iliroucjli  (Jnspel  truth, 
how  often  do  wo  t'cci  liko  crvina^  out  with 
the  one  of  old,  "Lnrd,  wlio  huth  believed 
our  report,  and  to  whom  is  Thine  arm  re- 
vealed?" Hence  Moses  shattors  the  tahles 
of  the  law  in  sad  and  bitter  disapjiointnient; 
Elijah  weeps  o\er  the  apostasy  of  Israel, 
falters  beneath  his  task  and  cries  out  in  the 
anguish  of  his  soul,  "O  Lord,  take  away 
my  life,  for  I  am  not  better  than  my 
fatherr.;."  Paul  fir^ds  fickleness  in  his  con- 
verts and  mourns  over  it;  Luther  is  so  sad 
and  disheartened  in  his  work  that  he  sits 
down  and  wrilcs  in  his  diary,  "If  God 
wishes  the  Reformation  to  go  oi  lie  must 
come  and  take  it  in  hand  Himsolt."  What 
wonder  that  we  be<'ome  discouraged! 
What  wonder  that  wo  become  t'.iint  and 
weary  in  our  work  of  well  doing  when  we 
see  all  around  us  men  possessed  of  iuuiior- 
tal  souls,  and  yet  so  besotted,  blinded,  and 
hardened  by  sinful  indulgences  as  to  prefer 


Eri  con  rn  fjemen  t. 


177 


fhp  slavory  r.[  Satnn.  with  its  galling  yoke, 
to  the  light  ond  liberty  of  tho  Christian  life. 
It  is  well  foi-  us  that  wo  have  a  Savior  who 
I-  able  to  smror  iis,  who  because  He  was 
m  .ill  point.^  toiTi]>ted   like  as  we  are,  yet 
without   .sin,  could  say  unto  us,  *'In  the 
world  ye  sliall  have  tribulation,  but  be  of 
good  i-heer.  1  have  overcome  the  world." 
When  we  think  of  Christ  who,  although 
.n.-sailed  l)y  slander,  contradiction,  and  en- 
snaring questions;     although   betrayed  by 
onr  di.'ciplr,  denied  by  another,  and  for- 
saken     by     all  — although     blasphemed, 
sronrged.     deri.lpd.     and    crucified,    went 
.^toadily  forward  in  the  path  of  suflPering 
;ind  ::arriti-e  until  the  perfect  work  was 
done,  wc  may  well  be  thankful  and  very 
-ippropriately  offer  the  poet's  prayer: 

"Lord,  should  my  path  thrniich  suffering  lead, 
Forbid  it  I  should  p'or  repine; 
Still  let  me  turn  to  Calvary,  nor  heed 
My  grief,  remembering  Thine." 


12 


178 


Confiki  and  Victory. 


This  is  a  very  encouraging  exhortation, 
for  it  has  resj)ect  unto  the  recompense  of 
reward.     "Let  us  not  he  weary  in  well 
doing,  for  in  due  season  we  shall  reap  if 
we  faint  not."    In  the  long,  weary,  painful 
conflict  which  Saint  Paul  heroically  waged 
with   supoistition,  error,   and  corruption, 
the  flesh  must  have  often  felt  weak,  and  the 
need  of  some  such  stimulus  as  the  recom- 
pense of    reward  must  have  often   heen 
apparent.    It  is  even  so  to-day,  for  we  are 
apt  to  herome  di.scouraged  and  weary  in 
well  doing.    Were  it  not  for  this  hope,  the 
work  of  Foreign  Missions  would  he  a  hope- 
less undertaking,  and  would  often  be  given 
up  in  despair.    The  Gospel  has  heen  very 
slow  in  taking  root  upon  some  soils.     In 
Burmah  Dr.  Judson  toiled  for  seven  years 
before  he  saw  any  fruits  from  his  labors. 
During  those  years  he  and  his  wife  ob- 
served the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
regularly,  but  they  were  the  only  communi- 
cants.   In  some  parts  of  Africa  and  New 


Enro  uragenient. 


170 


Zealand  we  find  missionaries  had  to  wait 
even  longer  tlian  this  before  the  reaping 
time  came,  but  faithfulness  in  these  eases 
was  abundant  1}'  rewarded. 

In  our  home  field  the  worker  often  finds 
it  very  dif!i<'ult  to  make  any  headway.     In 
the  early  days  of  the  Student  Settlement 
Movement  the  work  seemed  more   like   a 
forlorn  hope  than  laying  foundations  for 
glorious  achievements  in  the  near  future. 
When  .Judge  Lindsay  took  charg*^  of  the 
Juvenile  Court  in  Denver,  Colorado,  and 
undertook  the  task  of  reforming  the  city's 
youthful  criminals,  it  seemed  like  an  im- 
possible undertaking,  but  his  perseverance, 
and  patience,  and  tact  were  rewarded,  for 
we  are  told  that  in  over  ninety  per  cent  of 
the  cases  he  succeeded— a  record  of  which 
an  archangel  might  well  be  proud.     Then 
let  us   not   be   weary   in  well   doing,    for 
though  our  paths  of  usefulness  may  be  ob- 
scure, our  influence  unobserved,  and  our 
purposes  slowly  developed,  still  if  we  are 


MICROCOPY    RESOLUTION    TEST    CHART 

AI>ISI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No    2 


1.0 


I.I 


m  III 

H"     iio 


[2.5 
2.2 


2.0 


1.8 


1.25 


1.4 


1.6 


^  /APPLIED  irvlHGE     Inc 

^^_  ■•■■^?    East    Ma^i    Street 

~^  ■■  ■Chester,    Ne*    York  14609        USA 

'.f^  '6)    462  -  0300  -  Phone 

=^=  "'6)   288  -  ^989  -  Fox 


i^a.::;! 


^St;  K"iy 


180 


Conflict  and  Vicrtoy. 


laboring  along  right  lines,  God  is  \ntli  us, 
and  one  with  God  is  a  majority.  Each 
worker  in  God's  vineyard  ought  to  be  able 
to  look  up  confidently  and  say: 

"  Now  do  I  gather  strength  and  hope  anew ; 

For  well  I  know  thy  patient  love  perceives 
Not  what  I  did,  but  what  1  strove  to  do; 
And  though  the  full  ripe  ears  are  sadly  few, 

Thou  wilt  accept  my  sheaves." 

Then,  too,  we  have  encouragement  in  the 
thought  that  if  we  do  not  find  the  results 
of  our  Christian  service  on  earth,  we  will 
find  them  in  Heaven,  for  God's  word  as- 
sures us  that  "Good  deeds  in  this  world 
done  are  paid  beyond  the  sun." 

Then  let  us  spend  our  lives,  not  simply 
for  ourselves,  but  for  others.  Tt  will  en- 
hance our  peace  and  enjoyment  here,  and 
lit  us  for  tliat  better  life  of  servVe  and 
enjoyment  beyond.  If  we  would  in  the 
future  enjoy  Ihe  reaping  season  to  the  full, 
we  must  be  prepared  to  make  some  sacri- 
fices when  the  cause  of  the  Master  makes 


Encouragement. 


181 


the  demand  in  the  interest  of  humanity. 
None  are  more  stunted  in  spiritual  growtl: 
than  he  who  is  always  tiiinking  about  his 
own  Soul's  nourishment.  Such  a  person 
always  remains  spiritually  weak,  while  he 

"W^ho  has  goud  deeds  brought  well  to  eud, 
For  him  the  gloomy  forests  shine, 
The  whole  world  is  to  him  a  friend, 
And  all  the  earth  a  diumond  mine." 

We  are  traveling  in  the  footsteps  of  the 
illustrious  of  the  earth  whose  type  of  ex- 
cellence in  things  temporal  does  not  by  any 
means  satisfy  us.  Why  should  we  not  more 
than  measure  up  to  their  standard  in  things 
spiritual?  Surely  it  is  not  an  impossible 
undertaking. 


"If  only  we  strive  to  be  pure  and  true, 
To  each  of  us  all  there  will  come  an  hour 
When  the  tree  of  life  will  burst  into  Hower, 
And  rain  at  our  feet  a  glorious  dower 
Of  something  grander  than  ever  we  knew." 


CHAPTER  IX. 
INTELLIGENT  GOODNESS. 


I  ♦ 


"Ezra  had  prepared  bis  heart  to  seek  the  kiw  oi' 
the  Lord,  and  to  do  il,  uud  to  teach  iu  Israel  siatuled 
and  judgments." 

••A  wise  man  will  hear,  and  will  increase  learning; 
and  a  man  ol'  underslandiug  ^-liall  attain  unto  wi  .e 
counsels." 

"Let  your  loins  be  girded  about  and  your  lights 
burning;  and  ye  yourselves  like  unto  men  that  wait 
for  their  Lord." 

"Give  diligence  to  present  thyself  approved  unto 
God,  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed, 
handling  aright  the  word  oi  truth." 


W.i^ 


IXTELLTGF.XT  GOODNESS. 


or 
s; 

lt3 
ait 

lt(J 


(iivd  up  the  loin:^  of  your  luiuU,  be  !<ober,  and  hope 
to  tlie  end  —1  Peter  i,  13. 

Thk  Apostle  Peter  seems  calways  to  have 
( lit'iislictl,  after  Pentecost,  a  very  beeoniiug 
anxiety  for  the  traiuiiij.':,  developnieut,  and 
self-control  of  his  bi'iMiii'ci)  in  Christ.  In- 
deed this,  it  would  seem,  was  the  object 
i'liiist  had  in  view  when  He  called  him  to 
the  a])ostleshi)),  for  in  [racing  his  history 
you  will  notice  that,  wliile  lie  was  yet  a 
stranp^er  to  tlie  line  nature  of  his  Lord's 
Kingdom,  the  Sa\  ior  delivered  to  him  this 
solemn  injunction,  "W'lien  thou  art  con- 
\erted  slrciigllicn  tliy  ])rethreu."  This 
<  hargi'  I'ctei'  seems  never  to  liave  lost  sight 
of,  foi'  true  to  its  rtM|uirtMnents, he  promptly 
began  his  miiiistry.  as  soon  as  converted, 
by  preaching  a  strong  Gospel  sermon  upon 
the  day  of  Pentecost.     We  see  the  same 

185 


1S6 


Cunjlui  and   Vidury. 


spirit  manilVsied  in  bis  Kpistles  which  are 
from  hegiiiuini?  lo  oml  inspirational,  hope- 
ful, ami  helpful.  Tho  chaptor  from  which 
my  text  i>  taken  is  a  nnxh-l  in  this  par- 
ticular. In  the  text  he  calls  our  attention, 
by  way  of  exhortation,  to  three  important, 
necessary  things.  Let  us  then,  without 
further  iulroduction,  proceed  to  their  cou- 
-ideraliou,  taking-  them  in  the  order  in 
which  they  are  pivsented  in  the  text. 

We  are  exhorted  in  the  opening  clause 
to  vigorous  int<'irigence,  or  mental  activity, 
"Gird  up  the  loins  of  your  mind."     The 
Christian  religion   never  has   placed  and 
never  can  place  a  i)remium  ni)ou  sloth.  Her 
invariable  injunction  to  all  is  this:  "What- 
soever thy  hand  fiudeth  to  do,  do  it  with 
thy  might."    Tlie  words  of  the  text  assure 
us  that  the  intellectual  part  of  our  nature 
is  not  to  be  made  an  exception  to  this  rule. 
The  progressive  Christian  must  stand  in 
the  council  of  the  Lord  and  learn  with  zeal, 
for  purity  of  doctrme  is  no  less  an  essential 


Intelliyent  Goodness. 


1S7 


than  purity  of  life.  The  Bible  and  the 
Christian  religion  emphasize  culture.  Paul, 
who  was  a  man  of  vigorous  intelle(;t,  bi-oad 
culture,  and  strong  volition,  to  whose  in- 
tellectual development  three  civilization.^ 
contributed,  had  none  of  that  miserable 
contempt  for  human  learning  which  charac- 
terizes some  of  the  religious  fanatics  of 
to-day.  He  believed  that  religion  was  de- 
signed to  educate  the  soul,  build  up  the 
character,  develop  native  qualities,  mar- 
shal the  energies,  subject  the  will,  and  em- 
ploy the  imagination.  He  believed  that  it 
was  through  mental  processes,  largely,  that 
the  Holy  Spirit  works.  Hence  his  exhorta- 
tion— *'Be  ye  transformed  by  the  renewing 
of  your  minds,  that  ye  may  prove  what  is 
that  good,  and  acceptable,  and  perfect  will 
of  God."  If  religion  is  to  give  birth, 
growth,  and  maturity  to  our  spiritual  lives, 
she  must  not  ignore  the  intellectual  in  man. 
She  must  not  dispense  with  culture,  for 
that  would  be  to  reject  her  strongest  ally. 


• 


158 


Cunjltct  and   V'tct(/ry. 


The  point  to  which  Peter  especially  di- 
rects our  attention  is  not  sso  much  the  neetl 
oi'  heing  educated,  but  the  necessity  of 
keeping  the  mind  always  under  control,  in 
training  and  ready  for  action.  This  is  evi- 
dent from  the  figure  he  employs,  "(iird  up 
the  loins  of  your  mind."  The  reference 
here  is  to  the  girded  waiter  of  the  ancient 
world  who,  when  on  duty,  had  his  loins  gii't 
about,  and  his  long,  flowing  robes  tucked  up 
under  his  belt,  so  as  to  admit  of  free  and 
prom]jt  movement.  "Wlien  a  connnand  for 
service  was  given  no  time  was  ])eriiiitted 
for  girding  oneself.  That  had  to  be  done 
previous  to  yjresenting  oneself  for  duty. 
How  a])tly  this  figure  a])])ries  to  the  life  of 
the  Christian  iu  an  intellectual  sense. 
Preparation  for  service  is  a  necessity  in 
the  religious  world  if  we  are  to  be  recep- 
tive to  the  truth  and  com])etent  to  detect 
error.  As  Bishop  Hurst  observes,  "There 
is  an  intimate  union  between  philosophy 
and  theolog}^   and,   hence,   anything  less 


IniAligent    Goodness. 


189 


than  the  pursuit  and  cultivation  of  a  sound 
philosophy  will  endanger  our  theology." 
Tennyson  gives  us  a  beautiful  word  of  ad- 
vice when  he  says : 

"Hold  thou  the  good  :  define  it  well ; 
Nor  fear  Divine  philosophy 
Should  push  beyond  her  mark,  and  be 
ProciirehS  to  the  loixls  of  hell." 

^\^3en  T  look  out  upon  the  world  to-day 
and  see  the  niiohty  conflict  that  is  waging, 
fierce  nnd  strong,  between  the  children  of 
light  and  the  allied  forces  of  evil,  I  feel,  as 
a  Christian  man,  that 

'  I  dare  not  sit  with  loins  ungirt  and 
Staff  unliftPfi;   for  death  stands  too  near. 
I  must  be  up  and  doing— yea,  earh  minute; 
The  grave  gives  time  for  rest  when  we  are  in  it." 

As  Christians  it  becomes  us  to  wage  an 
eternal  conflict,  not  simply  with  worldliness 
and  moral  indifference,  but  with  mental 
sluggishness  in  things  pertaining  to  reli- 
gion.   We  must  emphasize  the  fact  that  in 


190 


Confiet  and  Victory. 


m 


all  parts  of  God's  Kingdom  fitness  is  the 
law  of  service,  and  the  only  law.  In  the 
religious  world  we  must  study  to  show  our- 
selves approved  unto  God,  for  He  can  only 
use  our  work  according  to  its  fitness. 
Ilonre,  God  will  not,  because  He  can  not  in 
tho  sjuritual  world,  any  more  than  in  the 
physical,  produce  grapes  from  thorns,  or 
figs  from  thistles.  This  would  be  inconsist- 
ent, and  hero  we  draw  the  line. 

We  are  also  exhorted  in  the  text  to  be 
men  and  women  of  self-control.  In  other 
words,  we  are  to  "be  sober."  There  are 
those  in  the  religious  world  who  would  have 
us  believe  that  to  be  deeply  religious,  we 
must  be  lost  to  all  self-control.  Such  a 
view  is  sadly  out  of  harmony  with  the 
teaching  of  God's  word.  If  the  Bible  has 
any  lessons  for  me  in  this  particular,  it  is 
that  the  true  Christian  is  not  volatile,  fickle, 
or  fanaticad.  It  expressly  declares  that 
"God  is  not  the  author  of  confusion,  but  of 
peace  as  in  all  the  churches  of  the  saints." 


JnteUigent  Gnoriness. 


Ill  I 


\A'Tipn  Peter  ^avo  us  tlu-  adviro  of  the  ttxt. 
he  spake  t'lom  experienee.  Mis  chaiactor 
was  very  different  when  he  wiotc  thi-  l-'pis- 
tle,  from  wliat  it  was  when  lie  said  to  .fcsus, 
"BehokJ,  we  liave  forsaken  all,  and  fol- 
lowed Thee;  what  shall  we  have  iliere- 
fore?"  The  old  impetnositx  which 
prompted  him  to  strike  off  an  ear,  and  the 
old  forwardness  wliicli  led  him  to  even 
rebuke  the  Savior  liad  lieen  ehastened,  re- 
fined, subdued.  There  was  the  same 
natural  temperament,  the  same  sanguine 
hope,  but  it  was  directed,  not  to  self-exalta- 
tion and  pre-eminence  abo\(<  his  brethren, 
but  to  the  glorious  pros})ects  that  open  to 
all  faithful  workers.  Naturally  an  impul- 
sive, hot-headed,  rash  man,  he  became 
through  the  influence  of  the  Spirit  .self- 
poised,  calm,  and  thoughtful.  T.ue,  he  was 
fervent,  but  not  disorderly;  full  of  high 
enthusiasm,  but  free  rvom  religious  hys- 
teria. Such  should  every  Christian  aim  to 
be,  for  religion  consists  iu  a  calm,  quiet 


i  ♦ 


192 


Cnnjlid  and   Victory. 


walk  with  (Jod.     It  has,  it  is  true,  its  emo- 
tions which  at  times  are  dee),  and  strong, 
but  it  is  ever  orderly  and  fjrave.     In  writ- 
ing   to     the    Tiiessalonian  believers.  Paul 
could  say  eoneernint;'  the  condnet  of  Sdas, 
Timotheus.  ;ind  himself,  "We  behaved  not 
ourselves  disorde.!;    among  you."     Paul 
was  a  manly  Christian,  a  follower  of  Jesus, 
his  ideal.      In    Christ   we   find   beautifully 
blended   the    hi.uhest    refinement    and   the 
truest  grace,     hi  ,-i,. dying  11  i^  life  among 
men,  we  find  tli;il   lie  was  never  common- 
place, rude,  oi-  V  il-nr,even  to  His  enemies. 
If  He   was   se^^M(^    He   was   dignified;   if 
familiar,  yet  alwny    xvith  becoming  reserve. 
No    wonder    tliat     i^enan,    the    scholarly 
skeptic  of  Frnnci'.  should  stand  with  un- 
covered head  ill  the  presence  of  the  Man  of 
Nazareth.     No  vronder  that  ingersoll,  the 
dashing.     elo<in"!il     skeptic    of     America, 
should  join   i'lUilc  in  snying  of  the   Mnn, 
Christ,  "1  find  no  fault   in   Ilim."     Why 
these  acknowledgments?     Simply  b.M'iiuse 


Intelligent  Gc^dness. 


193 


in   point  of   behavior   Christ  is   still    the 
world's  perfect  model.     Those  who  con- 
form their  lives  to  the  example  He  gave 
while  on  earth  will  be  the  most  infiuential. 
A  strong  man  is  always  stronger  for  be- 
ing a  thorough  gentleman.    A  good  man  is 
better,  and  his  goodness  is  more  liiglily  ap- 
]u-eciated,  if  he  observes  those  minor  vir- 
tues which  refine  and  beautify  the  life,  for 
the  Word  of  God  assures  us  that,  "Better 
is  he  that  ruleth  his  own  spirit  than  he  that 
taketh  a  city."    It  is  the  bane  of  our  own 
times  that  the  average  man  is  almost  sure 
to  underestimate  that  part  of  himself  which 
may  be  termed  his  personal  influence.    This 
is  unfortunate,  for  every  man  should  have 
an    amliition    to    impress    the    world    and 
lea>'e  it  better  than  he  found  it.    Our  influ- 
ence should  and  will  increase  if  our  char- 
acters continue  to  grow  and  our  conduct 
Imi)roves.    If  we  would  enhance  our  influ- 
ence and  increase  our  })ower.  we  nuist  sur- 
1  ender  ourselves  completely  to  the  cause  of 

13 


i* 


194 


Conflict  and  Victory. 


^^iM<^ 


right  and  be  wise  in  all  our  efforts  to  pro- 
mote it;  for,  as  a  general  thing,  when  the 
world  wants  a  reliable  man,  one  who  is  a 
positive  ([uantity.  it  almost  invariably 
turns  away  from  the  frivolous  and  the  er- 
ratic and  makes  choice  of  the  earnest,  self- 
reliant,  forceful,  sober  man. 

"Think    truly,    and    thy    thought    shall    the    world's 

famine  feed; 
Speak  truly,  and  thy  word  shall  hn  a  fruitful  aeed; 
Live  truly,  and  thy  life  shall  be  a  great  and  noble 

creed." 

Tn  the  last  clause  of  the  text  wo  are 
exhorted  to  be  o]>timistie  Christians,  to 
"hope  unto  the  end."  In  the  theological 
world  Peter  is  called  the  apostle  of  hope, 
for  while  Paul  emphasizes  faith  and  .lohn 
love,  Peter  lays  particular  stress  upon 
hope.  This  is  greatly  to  his  credit,  for 
liope  is  a  mighty  motive  power  in  the  lives 
we  live  hert^  upon  earth.  And  for  him  to 
tak(>  it  and  make  it  subservient  to  the  build- 
ing up  of  Christ's  kingdom  upon  earth  was 


Intelligent  Goodness. 


195 


an    imdertakiu^^    worthy    of    an    apostle. 
' '  Gird  up  the  loins  oi'  your  mind,  be  sober, 
and  hoi)e  unto  the  end."    WTiat  a  wonder- 
ful magic  there  is  in  that  word  hope !  WTiat 
would  this  world  do,  what  would  this  life 
be  without  it !     In  the  secular  world  it  is 
the  great  secret  of  success  and  the  strong- 
est   incentive    to    enter})rise.      Annihilate 
hope  and  the  husbandman  would  forsake 
his  furrow,  the  i^hysician  his  patient,  the 
student  his  books,  the  merchant  his  traffic, 
and  the  scientist  his  crucible.    Even  Pagan 
mythology  in  her  vain  but  beautiful  dreams 
said   that   when   all    other   divinities   fled 
from  the  world,  hope  with  her  elastic  step, 
beaming  countenance,  and  lustrous  attire 
lingered  behind  to  comfort  and  bless.    How- 
true  this  has  been  of  religious  hope,  which 
has  never  been  absent  from  the  world  for 
a  single  day!    In  every  period  of  human 
history  the  star  of  hope  has  lent  its  realiz- 
ing light.    I  look  back  to  Eden  and  T  see 
the  drooping  exiles  going  forth  to  an  awful 


.1* 


•  \-i 


■>t  ■; 


l'\      ' 


:^ 


I'';,! 


VM 


Conjlict  caul   Victory. 


inlioritancG  of  i)cUii  and  lal)or,  but  liopo  is 
there.    To  them  has  been  siven  the  promise 
that  the  seed  of  the  woman  shall   l)ruise 
the  serpent's  head.    A  little  further  down 
the  eentnries  T  see  a  solitary  inlpjrim  toil- 
iiiij'  wearily  alonj?  amid  wild  jiastoral  hills, 
ignorant  of  his   true  destiny,  but  as  he 
journeys  his  face  is  radiant  with  hope,  for 
he  is  traveling  toward  an  inheritance — a 
promised  land,  where  his  seed  is  to  ])ecorae 
as  numerous  as  the  stars  that  shine  above 
him,  or  the  grains  of  sand  beneath  his  feet. 
T  follow  the  course  of  events  on  down  to 
the  close  of  a  great  dispensation  and  the 
beginning  of  a  new  and  glorious  era,  and 
T  find  myself  standing  ui)on  Mount  Cal- 
vary,  surrounded    l)y   a   weary   world   of 
moral  darkness,  and  T  see  Him  who  is  the 
world's   ho]ie   taken   by   rude   hands   and 
crucified.    T  see  Him  taken  fr<nn  the  cross 
and  laid  in  a  new  tomb  of  hewn  rock,  a 
great  stone  is  rolled  to  the  door,  and  the 
greatest  cartly  power— the  Homan  govern- 


Eiti 


Intelligent  Ooodness. 


u>; 


nient— seals  {he  tomb.     It  seems  as  if  re- 
li.y'ious  lio])('  has  perished,  for  who  shall 
flare  to  iuterfere  with  a  Roman  seal?    A 
watch    of    Roman    soldiers    is    plaeed    on 
,2:uard,  and   thus   they  hold   their  victim. 
I'.ut  wait  a  little.    On  the  morning  of  the 
lliird  day  a  visitant  from  another  wor'd 
ar)proaclies  that  tomb.     At  the  brightness 
of  his  appearing  the  guards  are  overpow- 
ered, and  become  as  dead  men.     Withon^: 
l)ausing  to  in([uire  as  to  whose  authority 
is  being  interfered  with  the  seal  is  l)roken, 
the  stone  is  rolled  back,  and  the  mighty 
Conqueror  comes  forth  from  His  tomb,  a 
glorious    victor.      I    follow    ITim    out    to 
Bethany,  and  I  see  Ilim  lift  His  hands  in 
blessing  on  His  disci])les,  ])idding  them  go 
forth  to  redeem  the  world,  adding  this  sig- 
nificant i)romise,  "TiO,  I  am  witli  you  al- 
way,  even  unto  the  end  of  tlie  days. "    This 
is   the   world's  hope,  the  Christian's  an- 
chor. 

Shall  men  of  science,  ari,  and  philosophy 


I 


&*t-'- 


198 


Conflict  and  Victory. 


pursue  their  way  undeterred  by  successive 
failures,  and  shall  the  Christian  become 
the  vietun  of  f  aintness  and  despair  ]  Shall 
they  cry  out  "Excelsior,"  and  we  moan 
out,  dolefully,  ''Ichabod,  Ichabod, — the 
glory  has  departed?"  No,  no,  it  never  has 
been  so,  and  it  never  shall  be.  Have  they 
sustaining,  inspiring  hope?  We  have  more ; 
ours  is  a  conquering,  victorious  hope.  It 
fills  the  whole  horizon  and  reaches  to  the 
infinite,  for  it  is  "Christ  in  me,  the  hope 
of  glory." 

The  executioners  may  lead  Paul  forth  to 
be  beheaded,  or  torn  to  pieces  by  the  wild 
beasts,  but  they  can  not  rob  him  of  that 
hope  which  anchors  his  soul  to  that  which 
is  within  the  veil,  or  prevent  him  from 
saying,  "I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered  up; 
I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  finished 
my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith.  Hence- 
forth there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of 
righteousness  which  the  Lord,  the  right- 
eous Judge,  shall  give  unto  me  at  that  day, 


latelUyent  Uoodness. 


lyi^ 


and  not  unto  me  only,  but  unto  all  them 
that  love  His  appearing. ' '  1  iie  Christian 's 
hope  is  a  s^lorious  hope.  It  is  worth  some- 
thing to  be  al)le  to  say,  through  faith  in 
the  Gospel  ol'  which  the  scholarly  Paul  was 
not  ashamed  and  the  Christ  who  stood 
waiting  to  receive  Stei)hon's  spirit,  when 
standing  ui)on  the  verge  of  the  grave  and 
in  the  prosi)ect  of  the  dust  returning  to 
its  dust,  '*My  flesh  shall  rest  in  hope."  It 
is  worth  something  to  be  able  to  say,  "My 
soul,  wait  thou  only  upon  God,  for  my  ex- 
pectation is  from  Ilim." 

"The  wise  man,  saith  the  Bible,  walks  with  God, 
Surveys  far  on  the  endless  line  of  life; 
Values  his  soul:  thinks  on  eternity;  both 
Worlds  considers  and  provides  for  both; 
With  reason's  eye  his  passions  guards; 
Abstains  from  evil;    lives  on  hope,  on  hope  the 

fruit  of  faith. 
Looks  upward:  purifies  his  soul,  expands  his  wings 
And  mounts  into  the  sky; 
Passes  beyond  the  sun  and  gains  his 
Father's  house,  and  drinks  with  angels  from  the 
Fount  of  bligu." 


I  I 


'  1 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  RESPOXSIBILITY  OF  CITIZEX 
SHIP. 


!  I 


i 


I 

I 


:'.:=^  ■ 


"Blessed  Is  the  nation  whose  God  Is  the  Lord." 

"Righteousness  exaltetli  a  nation:  but  sin  la  a 
reproach  to  any  people." 

"When  the  righteoua  are  In  authority,  the  people 
rejoice:  but  when  the  wielded  bearetli  rule,  the  people 
mourn." 

"God  is  no  respecter  of  porsons:  but  in  every 
nation  he  that  feareth  Him,  and  wurketli  righteous- 
ness, is  accejilttble  to  Him." 


THE  RESPONSIBILITY  OF  CITIZEN- 
SHIP. 

Thou  Shalt  provide  out  of  all  the  people  able  men, 
such  as  fear  God.  men  of  truth,  hating  covetousness ; 
and  place  such  over  them,  to  be  rulers  of  thousands, 
and  rulers  of  hundreds,  rulers  of  fifties,  and  rulers 
of  tens.— Exodus  xviii.  21. 

Through  assisting  a  fellow  countryman 
to  slay  an  Egyptian,  Moses  became  a  fugi- 
tive and  fed  from  justice.  The  land  of 
Midian  became  his  sanctuary.  Here  he 
lived  for  many  years  with  Jethro,  th«^ 
priest,  whose  flocks  he  tended  and  whose 
daughter,  Zipporah,  he  married.  By  this 
marriage  he  had  two  sons,  Gershom  and 
Eliezer.  One  day  while  keeping  his  father- 
in-law's  flocks  near  Mt.  Horeb,  an  angel  of 
the  Lord  appeared  to  him  out  of  a  burning 

203 


k 


1 


',^ 


204 


t'oiijfict  and    Victory. 


hush  and  ji^avo  him  instructions  to  go  down 
into  Ei^yjjt  and  liheratt-  his  ojjpressed 
liicthi'cn.  Tn  ohcHiioncc  to  this  eonunand 
he  went  hack  to  Egyjjt,  leaving  his  wife 
and  two  sons  to  be  cared  for  l)y  bis  father- 
in-law. 

[  shall  not  stop  to  recount  the  wonder- 
ful things  that  transpired  in  Eg>'pt  before 
he  was  jiblc  to  etfect  a  cbMiverance  for  his 
op])ressed  brethren,  m>r  shall  \  linger  to 
give  the  details  of  their  triumph  at  the 
l{e(l  Sea,  and  their  signal  victory  over 
Anialek.  All  these  are,  no  doubt,  very 
familiar  to  you.  Tt  is  enough  to  say  that 
the  news  of  these  strange  and  startling 
events  s])read  very  ra))idly  ever  the  entire 
Sinaitic  peninsula. 

AMien  .iethro  heard  all  that  tlie  Lord  had 
done  for  Closes  and  learned  that  the 
Israelites  were  encamped  l)efore  Mount 
Sinai,  he  decided  to  ]niy  jNIoses  a  i)ersonaI 
visit  and  at  the  same  time  take  to  him  his 
wife  and  two  sous,  who  had  been  left  in 


i 


Resp,n,Hlh,l',t)j  of  C'dhenxhip.         UO;") 


Ills  caiv  whoii  he  \v(>nt  down  into  Fiffvpt  to 
Ih-I|»  liis  hn'tlii'.Mi.     When  .Jetbro  reached 
Mount   Sinai,   he  was   ivceived   hy   Afosos 
with  every  token  of  resi)ect,  treated  as  a 
superior  and  made  welcome  in  the  earn])  ot" 
Israel.     Closes,  as  niiyht  he  expected,  told 
liini  ail  that  God  had  done  for  l;is  country- 
men,   and    Jethro,    showing    no    si<,iis    of 
mortification  at  seein.e:his  former  shepherd 
in  sii.-h  an  exalted  position,  was  filled  with 
joy,  and  said.  "Blessed  he  the  Lord  who 
hath  delivered  you  out  of  the  hand  of  the 
Ki^yptian."     Owinj?,  no  douht,  to  tlie  hur- 
ried condition  of  thin^^s,  Afoses  had  only 
one  day  to  spend  in  entertaining  his  father- 
in-law;  for  we  are  informed  hy  the  sacred 
historian  that  "On  the  morrow  he  sat  to 
judsc   the   i)eople."     It   would   seem   that 
from  the  time  he  was  accepted  as  leader 
hy  the  j)eo|ile.  he  had  considered  himself 
hound  to  hear  and  decide  all  con]i)laints 
that    micfht    arise   anions'    them.      And    so 
numerous  were  the  cases  that  were  brought 


i 


'1 


I 


206 


Confict  and  Victory. 


m'  ^  , 


before  him  that  he  was  compelled  to  sit 
from  morning  until  evening.  This  was  by 
far  too  heavy  a  task  for  any  one  man  to 
assume  in  a  community  numbering  millions 
of  souls.  And  Jethro,  who  was  a  man  of 
keen  observation  and  good  judgment,  see- 
ing that  Moses  was  pursuing  a  course  that 
would  ultimately  prove  disastrous,  took  it 
upon  himself  to  give  him  some  advice  in 
this  matter  of  governing  the  people.  He 
saw  at  once  that  there  were  enough  men 
in  Israel  who  were  sufficiently  qualified  to 
execute  all  the  minor  governmental  func- 
tions and  that  such  persons  ought  to  be 
utilized;  for  Moses  would  not  only  wear 
himself  out  with  fatigue,  but  he  would 
also  exhaust  the  patience  of  the  people 
through  inability  to  attend  personally  to 
the  number  of  cases  that  would  be  sure  to 
arise  among  so  many.  .Tetliro,  tborcfore, 
recommended  the  ai)pointmoi]t  of  subordi- 
nate officers  to  administer  justice  in  all 
cases  of  minor  importance,  reserving  only 


I 


Responsibility  of  Citizenship.         207 

the  more  difficult  ones  for  Moses  himself 
to  adjust.    The  kind  of  men  he  advised  him 
to  appoint  for  this  work  were  such  as  are 
described  in  my  text:  "Thou  slialt  provide 
out  of  all  the  people,"  said  Jethro,  "able 
men,  such  as  fear  (Jod,  inen  of  truth,  hating 
covetousness."    Nor  did  he  wish  Moses  to 
act  hastily  in  this  matter,  for  he  further 
remarked,  "Tf  thou  shalt  do  this  thing  and 
Ood  command  thee  so,  then  thou  shalt  be 
able  to  endure,  and  all  this  people  shall  go 
to  their  place  in  peace."    Jethro  intended 
that  the  whole  of  this  plan  should  be  sub- 
mitted  for   God's   approval   before   being 
adopted,  and  the  fact  that  ^Moses,  acting 
upon  Jethro 's  advice,  did  all  that  he  had 
been  advised  to  do  in  this  matter  is  proof 
positive  to  me  that  God  was  well  pleased 
with  the  plan,  for  if  not,  Moses  would  never 
have  put  it  into  execution.    So  much,  then, 
for  Jethro 's  suggestion. 

Let  me  now  invite  you  to  consider  for 
a  moment  some  of  the  features  pertaining 


l-l 


■MmH 


ijIVV 


208 


ConfJiii  <ni<l   Victory. 


to  tin    olpction  of  those  nilors  in  Tsraol, 
which  are,  iu  a  measure,  anaU^gous  t<»  our 
own    iorni   of  government.     "Thou   shalt 
provide  out  of  all  the  i.eoplo."    From  tlie 
piirascoiogy  of  my  text,  one  might  infer 
that    Moses    went    through    the   eamp    of 
Israel  and  selected  such  men  as  he  consid- 
ered best  (lualified  to  rule.     lUit  tins,  how- 
ever, was  not  the  case,  for  it  was  no*  Moses 
who   made   the   selection,   hut   th-.    people 
themselves.   ^Moses  simply  confirmed  them. 
This  I  infer  from  Dent,  i,  15,  where  Moses 
in  refeiring  hack  to  this  (n-ent  uses  these 
avoids,  "And  I  s]iake  nnto  you  at  that  time, 
saying,  \  am  not  alil(>  to  hear  yon  myself 
alone.    Take  you  wise  men  and  understand- 
ing men  and  known  among  your  trihes  and 
I    will  make  them  rulers  over  you.     And 
ye  answered  me  and  said.  The  thing  which 
thou   hast   spoken   is  good    tor  ns  to  do." 
I'.y  this  we  see  that  the  jteople  elected  their 
rulers    and    M<»scs    sim]ily    ratified    tlieir 
choice  and  installed  them  in  office.     Here, 


Hesjxmsihility  of  Cith(:fi.s/u'j>.         2(>9 

then,  ^as  a  government,  "of  the  people, 
by  the  people,  and  for  the  people." 

Whether  Moses  realized  '^  or  not,  it  is 
nevertheless  a  fact  that  we  are  in  a  cer- 
tain sense  creatures  of  law.    That  is  to  sav 
there  is  a  law  in  our  nature  which  compels 
us  to  organize  and  govern.     It  was  God 
who  placed  that  law  there,  and  hence  it  fol- 
lows that  Civil  Government  has  Ijecome  a 
trust  committed  to  liuman  society  by  the 
Being  who  created  man.    Legislation  is  re- 
garded by  some  political  econ  ,mists  as  the 
most  difficult  ]»art  of  human  government. 
This  the  Israelites  had  furnished  for  them 
by  the  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  universe,  who 
gave  them  their  laws,— laws  which  are  the 
basis  of  all  wise  legislation  to-day.     In- 
deed, in  the  Jewish  Theocracy,  God  was 
<'ompelled  to  furnish  that  people  not  only 
with  good  laws,  l)ut  with  a  good  system 
of  government.    And  it  is  n-teworthy  that 
that  form  of  government  which  God  ap- 
proved was  not  one  which  gave  general 

14 


(fi 


210 


Conflict  and   Victory. 


power,  but  universal  service,  the  aim  of 
which  was  ' '  the  greatest  good  of  t*he  great- 
est number,"  and  which,  as  we  have  seen, 
was  a  government  of  the  people,  by  the 
people,  and  for  the  people.  With  this  form 
of  government  God  was  well  pleased,  but 
when  Israel  asked  for  a  king  He  was  very 
much  displeased.  In  Israel,  during  the 
time  under  consideration,  the  people  had 
the  privilege  of  selecting  their  rulers,  and 
in  this  particular  on  ndition  is  similar, 
for  in  America  the  \)  Ji^.e  rule.  Then,  too, 
if  their  laws  were  not  properly  adminis- 
tered, the  i)eople  were  to  l)lame  for  it ;  for 
if  im})roper  persons  were  elected  to  office, 
you  will  readily  admit  that  the  disgrace 
was  the  people's.  In  like  manner,  if  the 
]ieople  of  this  nation  elect  incompetent," 
unworthy,  or  dishonorable  men  to  office, 
the  disgrace  will  be  that  of  the  nation  in 
which  such  men  are  permitted  to  rule;  for 
in  this  country  the  resi)onsibility  of  main- 
taining good  government  lies  in  the  hands 


Reftpont^iJnUtij  of  C'thcnsliq).         211 

rliat  deposit  the  ballots,  and  lienee,  if  we 
ai-e  not  governed  as  we  ought  to  he,  then 
we,  the  peoi)le,  tlie  voters  of  the  country, 
are  to  ])hnne  for  it.      In  the  case  of  the 
Israelites  tlie  })eo])le  W(M'e  splendidiv  gov- 
erned, and  the  reason,  or  secret,  whichever 
yon  jiiay  term  it,  was  to  he  found  in  the 
fact  that  noiK^  l)ut  good  men  w(>re  eligible 
to  office.     .Inst  notice,  if  you  i)lease,  the 
(pialifications  tliat   were  demanded  of  all 
♦  andidatcs  for  office  in  the  days  of  Moses. 
Xone  were  eligible  to  office  who  could  not 
measure   up    to   a    certain   standard,   and 
that     standard     was    a     very    high    one. 
(  aaracter  and  ability  were  the  things  that 
were  taken  into  consideration,  and  further, 
let    me    say.    that    these   things   were   de- 
manded alike  of  him  who  ruled  over  ten, 
as  well  as    >f  him  who  ruled  over  a  thou- 
sand.    Let  us  go  back  and  read  the  text 
(mce  more.    "Thou  shalt  i.rovide  out  of  all 
the  j.eople  abl(>  men,  such  as  fear  God,  men 
of  truth,   hating  ''ovetousness;   and  place 


f 


« 


212 


C(mfi,t  an, I   Victory. 


.^iK'li  ovor  thoin,  to  ho  rulers  of  thousands 
^"i'l  rulers  of  hundreds,  rulers  „f  fifties' 
and  rulers  of  tens."    Hero  we  see  that  the' 
ftrst    prere-iuisite    was    ahilitv;    for    tliev 
^-ero,  first  of  all,  to  he  ahle  men.     Yo;, 
njny   think    it    a   little   strange   that    this 
qnahty  should  come  first,  hut,  no  douht 
.^otbro   realized  that    it   re(,uired   men   of 
ability  to  fill  resi)onsi],le  positions.    There 
are  hundreds  and  thousands  of  men  who 
are  honest,  upri.cfht,  and  reliable  who  ought 
never  to  be  promoted  to  positions  of  "re- 
sponsibility, because  they  have  no  qualifi- 
cations whatever  for  public  service.     Or- 
dinary powers  are  not  enough  to  qualify 
a  man  to  properly  rei.resent  his  fellows  in 
the  council  chambers  of  men,  for  unless  a 
public  man  has  ability,  he  will  not  be  able 
to  hold  the  respect  of  his  constituents    if 
tbey  are  at  all  intelligenr.    To  inspire  con- 
fidence and  deserve  j.romotion,  a  man  must 
have  sagacity  and  practical  discernment 
Lacking  these,  he  will  be  an  in  jurv  to  the 


II 


eHpon.sihi/lf;/  of  (Ji(l::ei,.shijj.  1>  1 


country  if  raised   to  an   iiiii)ortaiit  oiKicc. 
I'^or  a  man.  thcret'orc,  to  assist  in  the  elec- 
tion of  an  nn(iualified  ruler  is  sini{)jy  to 
conunit  a  crime  against  tlie  State.    But  I'or 
a  man  to  allow  ])t'rsonal  fitness  for  oirice 
to  intluence  liis  choice,  other  tilings  being 
<'<|nal,  is  to  make  tlie  eternal  (Jod  the  um- 
pire, and  in  civic  affairs  it  is  tlie  way  to 
do  His  will  on  earth  as  it  is  done  in  heaven.' 
The  man,  tlierefoi-e,  who  on  election  <hiy 
allows  wlnm.  caprice,  or  partizanship  to  in- 
duce Iiim  to  cast  his  ballot  for  an  iucomi^e- 
tent  ])erson  wiien  prim-iples  an*  at  stake, 
and  riglit  and  justice  in  danger,  tampers 
witli  a  })ul)lic  ti-ust,  and  is  a  traitor  to  the 
best  interest  of  his  country. 

But  to  be  an  eligible  }ml)lic  man  in  Israel, 
a  person  needed  more  tlum  a])ility.  First, 
Moses  was  to  see  tluit  all  tlie  candidates 
for  public  office  were  men  of  al)ility.  Then 
from  these  he  was  to  confirm  or  install  in 
office  such  able  men  as  feared  God.  ''Tliou 
-Shalt  provide  out  of  all  the  peuj^le  able  men, 


1.^ 


4 

A- 


•J  14 


Cunjiict  and    Vi<i(fry. 


such  as  fear  Cod."    I  .sai.l,  a  moment  a^o, 
that  piety  was  uot  enoujili  to  tiualily  a  man 
Tor  i.nl)rK'  serviee.    I  want  to  say  now  that 
ability,  in  itself  considered,  is  not  a  sntli- 
cient  guarantee  that  a  man's  imblie  ofticial 
life  will  be  what  it  ought  to  l)e.    There  nmst 
l)e  the  fear  of  God  linked  with  ability  be- 
lore  a  man  can  measure  up  to  the  liible 
standard  of  a  ruler,  even  over  ten  persons. 
7f  an  upright.  God-fearing,  relial)le,  though 
incapable   man   is  unfit    for   public   ofiice, 
which  he  certainly  is,  then  let  me  say.  with 
all  the  emphasis  I  ean  give  it,  that  the  able, 
qualified  skeptic,  or  unrighteous  person,  is 
a  thousand  times  less  <iualitied,  for,  unless 
God  is  reverenced  by  our  i>ublie  men,  we 
can  have  no  security  that  justice  will  be 
done,  even  by  men  of  the  greatest  intelli- 
gence.   If  a  man  has  uot  the  fear  of  God 
before  his  eyes,  then  is  it  not  plain  that  the 
more  ability  he  has,  the  more  capable  he  is 
to  do  harm,  and  the  more  likeU  ho  will  be 
to  use  it  in  that  way.'     There  is  an  old 


IiciHJ07i)iib(l'dy  of  Citizenship.         21.") 

custom  in  England,  wbicli  T  tliink  is  still 
extant,    ni  a  k  i  n  g    it    incun'l)ont    on    the 
"Jndges  of  Assizes"  to  preface  the  oi)en- 
iug  of  their  commission  in  each  assize  town 
by  attendance  at  divine  service  and   the 
hearing  of  God's  Word  ^.reached  by  a  min- 
ister of  the  Gos'pel.     1  think  this  is  a  wise 
and  profitable  custom.     The  only  security 
we  can  have  for  righteous  judgment  is  to 
be  sure  that  the  men  who  administer  it  have 
a  proi)er  regard  for  righteousness.     With 
Thomas  Carlyle,  I  believe  it  to  be  "  A  great 
truth  that  human  things  can  not  stand  upon 
selfishness,  mechanical  utilities,  economics, 
and  law  courts;"  for,  "if  there  be  not  a 
religious  element  in  the  relations  of  men, 
then    such    relations    are    miserable    and 
doomed  to  ruin."    "The  being  of  a  God," 
says  Charnot,  "is  the  guard  of  the  world; 
the  sense  of  a  God  is  the  foundation  of  civil 
order:  for  without  this  there  can  be  no  tie 
upon    the    consciences    of    men."      These 
words  have  a  special  application  to  every 


# 


210 


CotijiU-t  ami    V'utonj. 


imblic  man  aud  citizen  in  AnuM'ica.  George 
Washington,  in  liis  i'arewell  ;i<Ulress,  said: 
"Of  all  the  dispositions  and  habits  whicli 
lead  to  political  prosperity,  icligion  and 
morality  arc  indispensal)le  supports.  In 
vain  would  that  man  claim  the  tribute  of 
})atriotism  who  should  labor  to  subvert 
these  great  pillars  ov  human  happiness, 
these  first  props  of  the  duties  of  men  and 
citizens.  And  let  us  with  caution  indulge 
the  supi)osition  that  morality  can  be  main- 
tained without  religion.  Whatever  may  be 
conceded  to  tlie  influence  of  refined  educa- 
tion on  minds  of  peculiar  mental  structure, 
reason  and  exi)erience  forbid  us  to  exjject 
that  national  morality  can  prevail  in  the 
exclusion  of  religious  i)rinciples."  These 
words  from  the  father  of  his  country,  ut- 
tered so  long  ago,  commend  themselves  to 
our  better  judgment  to-day.  We  can  have 
but  little  faith  in  the  i)ublic  administration 
of  any  man  wi.o  has  no  moral  principles; 
for,  as  has  been  well  said,  "Tf  ability  is 


Mtt^^onsib'ditij  of  (Jitizenship.  lilT 

the  engine  that  drives  the  shij)  ol'  State, 
tile  tear  of  CJod  is  the  helm  that  guides  it 
clear  ut'  the  breakers."  Passing  by  truth 
loving  men,  which  is  fully  covered  in  the 
life  of  every  God-fearing  man,  let  us  glance 
at  the  last  item  of  my  text,  "Men  who 
hate  eovetousness,"  or  as  the  new  revision 
has  it,  "Haters  of  unjust  gain."  It  is  al- 
ways wise  to  shut  out  covetous  persons 
from  a  share  in  the  government,  for  the 
tendency  of  eovetousness  is  to  harden  the 
heart  and  blind  the  judgment.  "Wliere  such 
a  s])irit  is  indulged,  self  is  magnified  more 
and  more,  and  the  rights  of  others  are  not 
only  disregarded,  but  ignored.  The  duty 
of  citizenship  in  a  nation  and  government 
like  ours  is  a  sacred  one.  We  should,  and 
we  will,  if  true  men,  make  our  ballots  the 
conscientious  expression  of  our  personal 
convictions.  We  .should  ever  remember, 
when  making  choice  of  a  candidate,  that 
while  ability  is  never  to  be  overlooked,  still 
the  greatest  importance  is  placed  by  him 


t 

1 


'ni\s 


218 


Qmjlict  and   ['ict^ri/. 


to  whom  we  owe  our  Hist  allegiance  npon 
his  being  a  man  of  character  as  well  as 
ability.  God's  coujuiand  to  the  citizens  of 
this  nation  is  this:  "Tlion  shalt  provide 
out  of  all  the  people  al)le  men,  such  as  fear 
God,  men  of  truth,  hating  covetousness;" 
to  govern  the  people  in  the  interests  of 
righteousness.  Wlien  such  men  can  be 
found  you  can  safely  tiust  them;  for  they 
will  serve  as  those  who  have  to  give  an 
account.  If  history  can  be  of  any  service  to 
us  in  this  connection,  then  its  findings  may 
be  stated  thus:  "There  is  no  surer  sign  of 
national  demoralization,  no  more  certain 
indication  of  approaching  ruin,  than  the 
])romotion  of  tne  unfit  and  the  unworthy, 
and  there  is  no  healthier  symi)tom  than  the 
advancement  of  the  ujtright  and  the  ca{)- 
able.  The  questions  which  every  right- 
thinking  man  will  ask  himself  before  cast- 
ing his  ballot  are :  lias  he  ability !  Does  he 
fear  God  so  that  an  oath  of  office  will  bind 


JieHion,sihii;(>j  <,/  L'dizvmliiiK         219 

fiis  (  (nsciciicc.'     Is  he  true'     Does  Ik- hale 
unjust  ^\\\\\  '. 


W  hat  constitutes  a  state? 
\ul  liish-raiscd  hatt lenient  or  labored  nicund, 

TliicU   wall,  or  iiioaird  ,!;atc; 
\ut  cities   proiul.    with    spires   and   tuirets   crowned; 

Not   l)a,\s  and  ijroad-ariiied  poi-ts. 
Where,  lauurhinK  at  llie  storm,  ri"h  navies  ride; 

N'ot  .starred  and  Hi)ans;led  couits, 
Where  luw-hrowed  baseness  wafts  perfume  to  pride. 

.\'o:    men.  lii;;h minded  men. 
With   iiowers  as  far  ahove  dull  brutes  endued 

In  forest,  l)rake,  or  den, 
As  beast.s  excel  cold  roel<s  and  brambles  rude — 

Men  who  their  duties  know. 
But   know  their  rishts,  and  knowinp,  dare  maintain, 

Prevent  the  lonR-almcd  blow, 
And  cr-,)sli  tlie  tyrant  while  they  rend  the  chain; 

These  constitute  a  state: 
And    sovereign    law,    that    state's    collected    will. 

O'er  thrones  and  ;rlobes  elate. 
Sits  empress,  crowning'  sood,   repressing  ill, 

Smit  by  her  sacred  frown, 
Tlie  fiend.  Dissension,  liko  a  vapor  sinks; 

.Vnd  e'en  the  all-daz;^!inp;  crown 
Hides   his  faint   rays,  and  at   her  bidding   shrinks." 


2 


A 


ilitjing  tE^i)Oug!)t  ^crirs 


A  Lisr  OF  LH  rLH  books,  1- ACH  CON- 

TAINIXC,  AN  FSSAY  BY  A  WILL-KNOWN 
WRirLR  ON   R1;L1GI01  S  SUBJlX'iS  aV*A* 

The  Lif;ht  That  Saves, 

Hv    Ki:\      Ii)Il\    KF.I  \I  W 

niviiic  Renewals, 

H>    AMHKO^l     Sli::iMll.KI).    U     I) 

The  Responsibility  of  (iod, 

»>    J.WIK.S  (,    c.Ool.l).   M     A 

The  Daily  Cross, 

Hi    ALEXANDI.K    UHN  IE 

The  Four  Words  of  the  (jreat  Ministr^ 

Bv   JOHN   (,      JKAIN 

Hope:    1  he   Ilearts  L  nhroken  String, 

H^    lollS    A     III    1   1  UN 

The  l'ni\ersa!  Cross. 

H>    Jt)ll\    HI  N  1  1-  R 

IMUCi;.  15i  .  1;ACH  NFT;  by  i\LA1L,  17e. 


Scnmngo  auti  ©ratjam,  ^publififKrs 

£inrtnnati         Cbttacio  Uanc.iB  €itv         ^m  rvaiuioro 


